Mumbai: Wadia Hospital gets ART centre, to give free HIV medicines

A private hospital has come up with a paediatric ART centre for the treatment of children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and AIDS with the help of NACO.

According to the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society, through a public private partnership (PPP) model, free medicines will be available for all HIV infected children at ART centre in B J Wadia Hospital for Children. Dr Srikala Acharya, director of Mumbai District AIDS Control Society, said, "There is one such dedicated centre in Sion Hospital, but in private hospital this will be the first one for children. We are trying to encourage more private hospitals to come forward and start such PPP model in order to reach out to patients easily. But a many times private hospitals give negative response. They prefer giving consultation only." She added, "The number of children infected with HIV because of transmission from mother is decreasing. As per record, last year, only six such cases were found to be reported." The causes of HIV can be attributed to blood transfusion, sexual abuse, and also children can acquire from parent.

Dr Ira Shah, a leading paediatric who will be heading the Paediatric ART centre said, "With the initiative of starting the paediatric ART centre, children with HIV can get a holistic paediatric treatment under one roof." Hence, paediatric patients with HIV and associated infections will get a free HIV medicines - as well as complete Paediatric services at this centre.