44 Children Test Positive For HIV/AIDS

Kupang (Antara Bali) - Forty-four children under five years old in East Nusa Tenggara province have tested positive for HIV/AIDS, a doctor said.

In addition, a total of 25 children aged between 6 and 10 also had tested positive for the deadly disease and were now receiving medical care,  Secretary of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial AIDS Control Commission dr. Husein Pancratius said here on Monday.

The number of children living with HIV/AIDS was based on the results of recapitulation until June 2011 and therefore, it still might increase, he said.

"The children were found developing HIV/AIDS after their fathers had died of HIV/AIDS. HIV tests were also conducted on their mothers who  also tested positive for HIV/AIDS," he said.

Judging by the matter, he said HIV/AIDS also affected those who were not at risk of developing HIV/AIDS and therefore, continuous efforts must be made to prevent it from spreading further.

"The children are not part of risk group but are victims of the act of their parents who did not prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading to other people," he said.

Therefore, he asked parents to undergo early medical checkups to see if they had developed HIV/AIDS. (IGT)