Michael Creed
Question:97 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will facilitate the introduction of HIV testing for pregnant women. [5747/98]
Written Answers. - HIV Tests.
A programme of anonymous unlinked testing for HIV, as recommended by the surveillance sub-committee of the National AIDS Strategy Committee has been carried out in maternity hospitals and units throughout the country since 1992. Results for the four year period from 1992 to 1996 from this programme show that of the total of 222,687 tests which were carried out, 37 were confirmed HIV positive, giving a rate of 0.017 per cent or 1 in 6,019.
Because of recent advancements in the effectiveness of drug therapies for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and in the resulting improvement in health outcomes for both mothers and babies, the National AIDS Strategy Committee and its sub-committees have been examining the issue of routine ante-natal testing for HIV in pregnant women. At the meeting of the National AIDS Strategy Committee yesterday, chaired by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Moffatt, recommendations were received from the surveillance subcommittee, the care and management sub-committee and the regional AIDS co-ordinators that a programme of routine ante-natal testing should commence. This was agreed by the main committee and it was recommended that a group be established without delay to effect a programme of testing at the earliest date, giving due consideration to providing pregnant women with information and advice on the benefits of such testing.