KID KILLER: HIV TOLL DOUBLES IN GUJARAT

The number of children succumbing to HIVdoubled to 80 in the state last year while this year already 78 kids, includingnine in the city, have died; in the last eight years, 306 children havecontracted the virus in the city

Hemant (17 years) and Sushmita (12) are not only suffering from HIV but also coping with the death of their youngest brother Sushil (10). They were best friends and support to each other but things changed in September when Sushil succumbed to HIV-induced complications and pain.

The virus was transmitted to them through their infected parents. “We weren't aware of the deadly disease until our last child was born. Unlike my other infected children, his immunity was very low because of the infection. Despite regular treatment, he succumbed to it,“ said Summit Khan who lives in Shahpur.

There are several parents who have lost their adolescent children to HIV infection in the state. According to the data provided by Gujarat State Aids Control Society (GSACS) through RTI, the death of children with HIV has doubled in the state in 2012-2013. The data was collected from the 28 ART centres across the state.In 2012, 40 children living with HIV expired and the figure surged to 80 next year. There is the sad probability of the number of death exceeding last year's figure this year, as till October 78 children have died because of the infection.In the past eight years, 306 children have contacted the virus in the city

INEFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

The state health department along with National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) has initiated several schemes to prevent the spread of the infection from mother and for early detection among children. But the shocking revelation has again raised questions on the effective implementation of such schemes.

“In 90 per cent of the cases, a child gets infected from HIV positive mother. Hence, it is essential that medical experts take precautionary measures and counsel the mother properly. In such cases, it is most important that the child is born through caesarean and breast feeding is avoided,“ said Dr Keyur Shah, HIV expert at HCG Hospital.

He also felt that many government hospitals fail to provide efficient treatment to newborn which further makes them vulnerable to the infection. The last report of NACO in 2012 also underlined the sad conditions in the state. Gujarat ranks fifth on the list of children living with HIV in the country. Almost 2,000 children take treatment at ART centres in the state. ART centres often run out of stocks of HIV controlling medicine and kits. On October 11, Mirror published an article, `Shortage of HIV test kit puts babies at risk' which revealed the insufficient supply of free dried blood spot (DBS) kits at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

`MISREPRESENTATION OF FACT'

However, another group of medical experts and government officials say that the data is misrepresentation of facts.“Earlier, there was inefficient procedure of collection of data, hence many cases went unreported. But in recent times, due to better recording of cases, the data provided by RTI is showing higher number of deaths,“ said Dr Rajesh Sharma, HIV specialist at Sterling Hospital.

“Compared to previous years, the mortality rate has decreased among children living with HIV so this data doesn't represent the real picture,“ he added.

GSACS REFUSES TO COMMENT ON THE DATA

Incidentally, there was a dip in the number of deaths reported in 2011 and 2012, but there has been a spurt in the number since 2013. Echoing the same, an activist working for people living with HIV said, “As the data shows, there have been ups and downs in the number of deaths.So, as they say, there is irregularity in recording of data.“

(Names of HIV positive children and parent changed to protect identity)

MOST VULNERABLE

Children less than 15 years of age accounted for 7 per cent (1.45 lakh) of all infections in 2012. India is estimated to have around 1.16 lakh annual new HIV infections among adults and around 14,500 new HIV infections among children in 2011. Addressing HIV in infants and children below 18 months is a significant global challenge. HIV children are the most vulnerable and frequently present with clinical symptoms in the first year of life. Where diagnostics, care and treat ment are not available, studies suggest that 35 per cent of infected children die in the first year of life, 50 per cent by the age of two and 60 per cent by the age of three.