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Five months after the Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) invited proposals for standardising HIV testing facilities at public and private medical centres,the society is finding it difficult to rope in maternity homes because of the minimum 50 deliveries a month criterion set by National Aids Control Organization (NACO) for maternity homes.
In its first attempt to standardize HIV testing in both public and private hospitals,clinics,maternity homes and private laboratories,NACO,had invited proposals from private medical centres. We have been given a target of 24 maternity homes apart from other medical centers to train their counselors and technicians and also provide test kits. However,most of these maternity homes fail to meet the requirements set by NACO, said Dr S S Kudalkar,project director,MDACS.
He added,NACO in its national guidelines has set a criterion that allows only those maternity homes that have conducted at least 50 deliveries a month. Only three maternity hospitals including Wadia Hospital in the city fulfill the criteria. Maternity homes are an integral part of the programme as they can prevent mother to child transmission of the disease.
Twelve private medical centers including hospitals,maternity homes and nursing homes in the city have come forward to participate in this government scheme and to start Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers (ICTC) that provide free HIV testing facilities and counseling for patients. However,MDACS has been unable to rope in more private maternity homes. Over two months back MDACS had written to NACO urging them to relax the rules for Mumbai as the city has a problem of space. There are many maternity homes willing to participate but they conduct only 30 deliveries a month on an average, said Dr Kudalkar.
Hospitals like Safiee Hospital on Churni Road,Prince Aly Khan Hospital in Mazgaon,Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital in Parel and a couple of other small maternity homes and hospitals in Malad,Goregaon,Mulund and Mahim have already signed a memorandum of understanding with MDACS,apart from five Family Health Internationals Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) clinics and two Population Service International clinics. Last month when NACO chief had come down to Mumbai for a review meeting we had again put forth the issue but are yet to get any response, said Dr Kudalkar.
NACO decided to standardize HIV testing in private maternity homes and hospitals as nearly 35 per cent of mothers delivering in the state approach private hospital for healthcare.
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