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Breastfeeding helps reduce HIV transmission chances: Study Significant for India, where 30% AIDS patients are women
HIV Positive mothers can significantly reduce the chances of their child becoming infected with virus by exclusively breastfeeding their baby till it reaches six months of age. A landmark study by scientists at Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, South Africa has found that exclusive breast-feeding significantly reduces the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child in infants, compared to those also given solid foods or replacement feed like formula milk.
To read more log on to : www.timesofindia@indiatimes.com
The research, published on Friday in the ‘The Lancet’ has made some interesting findings. The researchers found that there is just 4% risk postnatal transmission to infants solely fed on breast milk between then age of six weeks and six months of age.
Infants who received supplements like formula milk or animal milk in addition to breast milk were twice as likely to be infected as infants who received breast milk only.
3rd April 2007
Hospital Culture and the fear of HIV/AIDS
The recently reported instance of an HIV infection in "thalassaemic" patients in Kolkata is a cause of concern. Perhaps there is an urgent need both for a concerted policy prescription by the state and honest introspection by health personnel at all levels.
One does not know the magnitude of the problem resulting from professional negligence and lack of awareness among health personnel. Take the simple case of blood banks. It is mandatory that the blood banks should carry out at least five crucial tests of every sample collected: malaria, hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C, syphilis and HIV/AIDS. One does not know indeed if there is a mechanism in place to verify if such mandatory procedures are adhered to.
It would be curious to know the instance of reporting of HIV infections detected at blood banks or blood donation camps. Either the HIV infected persons, whether aware or not of their infection, do not ever donate blood or there is hardly any reporting of HIV infection.
For more information: www.hindu.com
22th April 2007
'No firm involved in AIDS vaccine research' Tardy pace of research: IAVI
An overburdened, under funded and poorly coordinated public health research institutional framework, and lack of involvement of private sector are some of the major factors responsible for slow pace of research and development for a vaccine for AIDS in India.
Epidemic:
According to International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), while every one in India agrees on the serious impact of the epidemic, the existing measures towards finding an AIDS vaccine require a more aggressive approach. At present there is no company involved in AIDS vaccine research and development and efforts by public research institutions- against the backdrop of limited resources and competing health priorities
For more information log on to: www.hindu.com
22th April 2007
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