Many gains in fighting HIV

mymedicplus — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 05:55:48 +0000

Source – https://www.thehindu.com/

There is a reduction in new HIV infections among children and in AIDS-related deaths in India

In this challenging moment when we are confronted with one of the biggest health emergencies in our history, the COVID-19 pandemic, we find our strength in the gains we are making despite this disruption.

Steps forward

The newly released 2019 HIV estimates by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO)/Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the technical support of UNAIDS tell us that there has been a 66.1% reduction in new HIV infections among children and a 65.3% reduction in AIDS-related deaths in India over a nine-year period. The number of pregnant women living with HIV has reduced from 31,000 in 2010 to 20,000 in 2019. Overall, antenatal coverage has expanded, and HIV testing has increased over time and within target range. Treatment coverage has also expanded.

Under the leadership of NACO, a ‘Fast-Tracking of EMTCT (elimination of mother-to-child transmission) strategy-cum-action plan’ was outlined by June 2019, in the run-up towards December 2020: the deadline to achieve EMTCT. The plan entailed mobilisation and reinforcement of all national, State and partners’ collective efforts — in a strategic manner, with district-level focus, and considering latest evidence — so that the States/Union Territories and the country as a whole achieve the EMTCT goal. Additionally, in March 2020, we began efforts to minimise challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 2010 to 2019, India made important progress in reducing the HIV impact on children through prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This was done through education and communication programmes; increased access to HIV services with innovative delivery mechanisms for HIV testing (community-based testing, partner testing or index testing); counselling and care; and treatment and follow-ups. India made HIV testing for all pregnant women free and HIV treatment is offered the same way nationwide without cost to pregnant mothers living with HIV through the national ‘treat all’ policy.

Cognisant of the challenge of diagnosing 20,000 pregnant women living with HIV in an estimated 30 million pregnancies annually in India, for two years UNICEF has worked with the World Health Organization and NACO to identify high burden districts (in terms of density of pregnant women living with HIV) as the last mile towards disease elimination.

Since 2002, when the EMTCT of HIV programmes or prevention of parent-to-child transmission of HIV were launched in India, a series of policy, programmatic and implementation strategies were rolled out so that all pregnant women can access free HIV testing along with other services at antenatal clinics, and free treatment regimens for life to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to babies. This has been made possible in government health centres and grass-root level workers through village health and nutrition days and other grass-roots events under the National Health Mission.

Indeed, the approach being promoted by UNICEF in focusing attention and resources in high burden districts is supported by the HIV strategic information division of NACO and UNAIDS to better understand the locations and populations most HIV affected, so that technical support and HIV services can be directed towards these areas.

Still a long way to go

However, there remains a need for increased treatment saturation coverage and for early HIV testing and treatment initiation to become the normal. While periodic monitoring of the data and reviews are the mainstay of the programme response, by 2019 it was very evident to all the stakeholders that while there are successes, we have a long way to go towards the final targets.

Using data-driven and decision-making approaches, we are certain that AIDS will no longer be a public health threat for children in India by the end 2030, if not before.

Bilali Camara is UNAIDS Country Director for India

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Number of overweight children rises by a fifth because of lazy summer holidays spent staring at screens

mymedicplus — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 11:33:01 +0000

Source: telegraph.co.uk

A study of 400 children found that just six weeks’ holidays was enough to reverse major fitness gains – and increase the number of overweight and obese children by one fifth.

The British study by ukactive found that during the academic year, the pupils aged nine and ten made steady improvements in their fitness levels.

But around 80 per cent of gains were reversed during lazy summer holidays, in which PE lessons and walks to school were replaced with long days hunched over gadgets.

At the start of the summer, 20 per cent of participants were overweight or obese.

But just six weeks later, the figure was 24 per cent.

It came as a survey involving more than 1,000 families found that children were spending an average of 174 hours on gadgets, games consoles or watching television over the six weeks – an average of more than four hours’ screen time daily.

The research by Sainsbury’s came as the supermarket giant launched a chain of summer camps, costing £7.50 a day, offering children sports such as tennis, cricket, dodgeball and football, as well as arts and crafts.

The 70 clubs, based mainly in schools, which also serve a healthy lunch and snacks, are aimed at those aged five to 15 and are run by holiday club provider Premier Education.

Judith Batchelar, director of Sainsbury’s Brand, said: “We know from speaking to parents that the summer holidays can be a difficult time to keep kids active and entertained without having to spend a fortune.

“Our Active Kids holiday clubs are designed to help by giving children the chance to try a variety of exciting new activities whilst meeting new friends and keeping their fitness levels up during the summer holidays. We hope children taking part in a club this summer continue to keep up with their new hobbies and head back to school with a spring in their step.”

Chairman of ukactive, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, backed the plans. She said: “We have a national crisis with our children’s health, as today’s generation is the least active in history. This situation is magnified during the school summer holidays, where children lose up to 80 per cent of their fitness levels across the six week break.”

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said too many children were being allowed a stream of junk food during the holidays, with childminders and grandparents falling prey to “pester power”. om speaking to DH, it seems 20 million could get same day appt with pharmacist for minor issues.

Earlier this month fitness leaders said schools should be kept open all summer, running sports clubs, in a bid to tackle Britain’s growing obesity crisis.

They urged ministers to fund a new programme which would give children access to sporting facilities and playing fields throughout the holidays.

Sports leaders called on the Treasury to take action to tackle record levels of obesity and inactivity.

Almost 40 per cent of all sports facilities in England sit behind school gates – but most of these cannot be accessed during school holidays, they warned.

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gains Archives - MyMedicPlus

Many gains in fighting HIV

There is a reduction in new HIV infections among children and in AIDS-related deaths in India

Steps forward

Still a long way to go

Number of overweight children rises by a fifth because of lazy summer holidays spent staring at screens