Pregnant women should have a rapid HIV test: SSO

Oaxaca.-The Oaxaca Health Services (SSO) are calling on pregnant women to conduct a rapid test of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in health centers and hospitals every year. trimester of their pregnancy. identify and avoid vertical transmission of the newborn.

SSO's Director of Prevention and Health Promotion, María del Pilar Nava Ramírez, said that the unit had strengthened examinations to detect early abnormalities during pregnancy, under the theme "Strategies for prevention of vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis. "

As a result, 57 thousand 711 screening tests for the diagnosis of these diseases have been distributed in the six state health jurisdictions.

He clarified that this test is conducted free of charge to prevent any child from being born with the virus causing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

"The goal is to educate the public about the importance of asking the diagnosis in every pregnant woman because if the presence of the infection is detected quickly, treatment measures are put in place to prevent the baby to contract the virus, "said Nava. Ramírez.

She indicated that if the test was positive, the patient would immediately refer to the outpatient clinic for the prevention and treatment of AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (CAPASITS) in order to receive the appropriate treatment and thereby reduce the risk of transmission. .

The director said that so far this year, 11 cases of HIV-positive women being screened have been reported and are already being treated under the state's CAPASITS program.

Finally, he said that the Secretary of Health, Donato Casas Escamilla, was instructed to redouble efforts to improve the health of the mother-child binomial, with detection strategies, rapid diagnosis and early treatment.