Compulsory HIV test soon for pregnant Indian women

New Delhi, Oct 9: The parliamentary forum on HIV and AIDS announced that soon HIV test would be compulsory for all pregnant women across the country.

"We want a HIV free generation. We are for testing all pregnant women for HIV so that no children can be born with the disease," said Oscar Fernandes, head of the Parliamentary Forum on HIV and AIDS.

"Passing the disease to a new born is a human rights violation. This should stop and all of us must try to make this a success."

India has at least 2.5 million HIV positive people and thousands of babies are born with HIV positive status as they acquire the virus while in their mother's womb.

Oscar Fernandes in 2000 started the Parliamentary Forum on HIV and AIDS to fight the dreaded disease.

Fernandes is hopeful that such an initiative would help to control the spread of the disease.

“If we detect HIV before the institutional delivery, it will curb HIV spread. You will see it soon," Fernandes said.

OneIndia News