Bill seeks mandatory HIV tests for pregnant women

To prevent the rise in cases of newborn babies infected with the virus that causes AIDS, a legislator is seeking a mandatory testing and other medical assistance, including education, for pregnant women in the Northern Marianas.

A bill introduced at the House of Representatives will set the mechanism to help these women prevent transmission of HIV — or Human Immunodeficiency Virus — to their babies following discovery of one such incident early this month, the first ever recorded on the island.

The move will expand the current Maternal and Child Health program of the Department of Public Health to include information on HIV transmission, according to the measure filed by Rep. Heinz Hofschneider, chair of the House committee on Health, Education and Welfare.

Aside from making the program a requirement, the proposed measure will also allow mandatory HIV testing and counseling for all pregnant women during the pregnancy to determine the health condition of the baby.

The testing shall be part of the routine prenatal check-up and laboratory screening provided under the existing program. “If a pregnant woman presents herself in labor and upon evaluation, was determined that she did not receive prenatal care, then HIV testing will be done at the time of delivery,” the bill said.

Hofschneider’s action came on the heels of a DPH report of a infant found to be carrying HIV after his parents were tested positive of the virus that leads to AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

The case of the virus transmission from a mother to her newborn infant is the first ever reported in the Northern Marianas, according to public health officials. At least 10 other new HIV cases have been found in the past few months, mostly nonresident workers.

Hofschneider said the epidemic must be stopped through intensified information campaign because of its potential strain on local resources, noting the high cost of treating AIDS patients.

But the cost of treating a pregnant woman to reduce the prenatal transmission of HIV is less than $3,000, including $10 per day during the pregnancy, $650 during delivery and six weeks of therapy for the infant after birth.

“Not only is the cost/benefit ratio extremely favorable, but the benefit of preventing the pain and suffering of our children is significant,” Hofschneider said, acknowledging that the CNMI “cannot afford the cost and human suffering of large scale HIV outbreak” here.

He also noted that the mother of the HIV-positive baby declined free testing during her pregnancy as only about 15 percent of pregnant women in the NMI avail of the voluntary program.

While the fees will be waived in the implementation of the proposed law, the legislature will weigh its financial impact on government resources before having the mandatory test be part of health insurance coverage and federal health programs.