BMC reaches out to moms-to-be in private clinics

The

BMC

has reached out to more than 10,000 women in the five wards reporting the maximum number of HIV infections among pregnant women in recent years. These cases would have been missed if not for the civic body's initiative to tie up with private hospitals and nurs ing homes in these areas.

While HIV among pregnant women has seen a 64% decline over the last six years, the BMC observed that many women who were delivering in private set-ups were off the programme's radar. An analysis showed that a chunk of the cases were being reported from Chembur, Mankhurd, Malad, Govandi and

Kurla

.

“We signed MOUs with several of these centres so that they send us regular updates on how many women are being tested and referred for further treatment if the report is positive. Many of these women found out about their status only during their first pregnancy ,“ said Dr

Shrikala Acharya

, assistant project director at the Mumbai District Aids Control Society . Private doctors are also being sensitized at the BMC ward offices.NGO Sathi has been working with the BMC to reach out to the hospitals.