HYDERABAD: The prevention of transmission of HIV from mother to child and viral load testing are some of the challenges in checking the spread of the virus, Oscar Fernandes, the chairman of Forum of Parliamentarians on HIV/AIDS, said today.
The viral load test measures the amount of HIV's genetic material in a blood sample.
The senior Congress leader also highlighted the need to have awareness to prevent the spread of the virus and called for preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
"We don't know whether the treatment is working or not. We need to know before it is too late, therefore, we should now put our efforts to provide viral load testing for all those being treated," Fernandes said addressing the 10th National Conference of AIDS Society of India.
The youth should be empowered with knowledge and awareness to prevent the spread of the virus, the Rajya Sabha member said.
"What worked in the 90s may not work now," the former Union minister said.
Fernandes said India was now supplying medicines, including for HIV/AIDS, to 180 countries and it was appreciated at the United Nations as well.
He lauded Ishwar Gilada, the president of the AIDS Society of India, for his efforts in containing the spread of HIV/AIDS.
At the event, a person living with HIV/AIDS appealed to doctors to be empathetic towards those suffering from the infection