Leading legacy of healthcare protection, West Bengal tops in prevention of parent-to-child transmission of HIV
Kolkata, April 30: Chalking out various schemes pertaining to health, the states have shown an upper hand on progress and development. Leading the way to achieving its target, West Bengal has been adjudged as the best State in the country in the prevention of parent-to-child transmission of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which leads to AIDS.
Congratulating the people of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee through her Facebook account posted the news of becoming the state free of the transmission of HIV from parents to children. Her Facebook post read as, “I am happy to share with all of you that as per the assessment done by NACO for ‘Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV’ programme for 2017-18, West Bengal has emerged No. 1 in the country.”
NACO, or the National AIDS Control Organisation, is a Central Government agency under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It has played an important role in controlling the spread of HIV and the treatment of AIDS since the early 1990s.
Through her post Mamata Banerjee also shared that the state has emerged as one of the best states in this category because of the immense efforts taken by the employees working under this project. Moreover she also emphasized on noting that through the proper implementation of the Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPCT) programme, the State Government has enabled 16.5 lakh pregnant women from Bengal in preventing the transmission of HIV to their newborn children.
For those adults and children found HIV positive, the Government provides free treatment through Anti-Retroviral Therapy Centres situated in sub-divisional, district and medical college hospitals.
Mamta Banerjee Government has worked towards providing privileges to the people on health and medical grounds. Earlier the state had slashed rates of hotels and lodges at half the price for cancer patients, Bengal is the only State in India to offer such special prices at tourist lodges for cancer patients.
Amid the ongoing hassle over the election violence, West Bengal has really got some good news on its health front.