Expert committee to submit report on integration of HIV, TB test- Panda

20 February, Bhubaneswar

A ten member expert committee would be set up by the Central government soon to find out ways for conducting HIV and TB test at one place, National Health Mission Director Arun Kumar Panda said.

Reviewing the implementation of programmes for eradication of of HIV and Tuberculosis in Odisha here Monday Dr.Panda the committee would submit a report within a month after studying the situation in various states.

He said action on the integration of tests for the HIV and TB would be taken on the basis of the report of the committee. Dr Panda who is also the Additional Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare advised the officials to conduct the HIV test of all pregnant women to check the transmission of the disease from the mother to the child. He said the HIV test of pregnant women should be conducted during the first ante-natal check up.

The meeting was told that 67,654 persons in the state have been affected by HIV. So far 40,205 have been identified out of whom 24,726 are men and 15,479 are women. Every year around 3,000 new cases are being added.

Official sources said out of the total 15,479 women HIV patients 2,096 are pregnant women and 2,466 are under the age of 14.Similarly around 48,000 TB Patients are identified in the state every year.

Dr Panda asked the officials to widen the identification and treatment of TB Patients and all TB patients should be identified so that the disease could be eradicated fully by 2025.