Not a single case of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Goa

Not a single case of mother-to-child HIV transmission has been reported during the last year in Goa, as compared to the national average of five per cent, a senior official said today.
"The results of the tests were encouraging in Goa. Only five out of 8,000 pregnant women tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were found to be positive in 2014.
"But no child was found to be infected with HIV transmitted from the mother," National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) Deputy Director General Dr Naresh Goel said in the presence of Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Shripad Naik.
Goel apprised that across India, the mother-to-child HIV transmission ratio is five per cent.

"The number of HIV tests conducted in Goa is increasing, but the number of people found to be affected is decreasing every year," he said.
As per the data received from State AIDS Control Society (SACS) in 2014, 47,003 tests were conducted, of which 47 were found to be positive, while in 2015, 22,729 tests were done till date, of which 19 were positive.
Goel said Goa, being a tourist state, is more vulnerable to HIV.
"Those doing drugs are more vulnerable as they use the syringe to inject more than once," he added.