‘TN second in world to register nil HIV transfusion from mother to child’

Addressing the Assembly during the demand on grants on Health Department, Vijaya Bhaskar said, “Cuba is the first country to completely prevent HIV transfusion from AIDS infected mother to child and Tamil Nadu is second in the list to completely prevent HIV transfusion from AIDS infected mother to child. Tamil Nadu is competing with the world countries in preventing transfusion of AIDS to new-born babies.”

Earlier in the day, DMK MLA Dr P Saravanan, from Tiruparankundram constituency, questioned the Minister whether there is any facility available for transgenders to undergo sex reassignment surgery in government hospitals in the state and has any transgenders undergone the surgery.

Vijaya Bhaskar replied that sex reassignment surgery is done for free in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and so far, 17 persons had undergone surgery. He also said that a multi-speciality clinic for transgenders would be set up in Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital soon. Apart from that government has also proposed to establish three more such multi-speciality clinics for transgenders in government hospitals in Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Salem at the total cost of Rs 60 lakh.

He further announced that state will formulate rules and procedures to undertake sex reassignment surgery by consulting with experts. Their health requirements will be studied and it will be linked to national programmes on child welfare and adolescent protection.

The Minister went on to say that cases of communicable diseases such as Dengue and Malaria are decreasing in the state. “The state which had reported 23,294 cases of dengue in 2017 was reduced to 4,486 cases with 13 deaths in 2018. In the current year, till June, 1,101 cases with zero deaths are reported,” said Vijaya Bhaskar.

He further said that as far as Malaria is concerned the state recorded a total of 3,787 cases in 2018, but from January to June, there are only 681 cases. This was possible due to continuous monitoring and preventive measures of the state government as two rounds of indoor residual spray is carried out during June and September. India aims to eliminate Malaria by 2027, said Vijaya Bhaskar.