In a significant public health achievement, the state of Goa has reported negligible cases of mother-to-child transmission of HIV for the past two consecutive years. This milestone was announced by Dr. Vandana Dhume, Director of the Goa AIDS Control Society, during a World AIDS Day event.
Successful Treatment Enables Healthy Births
Dr. Dhume highlighted the transformative power of consistent medical treatment. She explained that children born to HIV-positive couples can now be HIV-negative, provided the parents adhere to lifelong Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). The state provides necessary medicines at its ART centres, and newborns receive medication right from birth, creating a strong shield against the virus.
"Anyone who is detected HIV positive needn't take tension. The person must go to government ART centres, take lifelong treatment and lead a good quality of life," Dr. Dhume reassured. She emphasized that with proper care, HIV-positive individuals can plan for pregnancy and have healthy children.
Goa Nears National AIDS Control Targets
The state has made remarkable progress toward the national programme's ambitious 95-95-95 targets set for 2025. According to the latest data:
- 99% of people in Goa know their HIV status.
- 82.4% of diagnosed cases are on sustained ART treatment.
- 98% of treated patients have achieved viral load suppression.
The epidemiological trend is also encouraging. Goa reported 237 new HIV cases this year, with 98% of those patients immediately starting treatment. Notably, new case numbers have shown a consistent decline over the past three years, solidifying Goa's status as a low-prevalence HIV state in India.
Sustained Vigilance and Community Outreach
Despite the progress, health authorities stress the need for continuous effort. Health Secretary Yetindra Maralkar noted that while testing numbers have increased, the positivity rate has remained stable. "In this scenario, continuous vigilance is needed to address high-risk pockets and ensure uninterrupted treatment and prevention," he stated.
To bolster its efforts, the Goa AIDS Control Society has launched multiple community-centric initiatives. HIV-positive individuals are being trained as advocates to encourage screening and treatment adherence. The programme has deployed awareness vans across North and South Goa, introduced a mascot named Shanu, and operates a 1097 helpline. The society also maintains an active presence on social media platforms to widen its awareness campaign reach.
This comprehensive approach, combining advanced medical treatment, robust surveillance, and community engagement, demonstrates Goa's strong commitment to eradicating HIV and supporting those affected by it.
