PATNA, Sept. 8 -- The Bihar government has initiated a study to identify the underlying causes of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, officials said on Sunday. The move comes amid concern that around 2 per cent of children born to HIV-positive women in the state are diagnosed with the infection - well above the national goal of bringing vertical transmission down to zero. "We are trying to identify hidden pockets of HIV among pregnant women and, at the same time, trace the root cause of mother-to-child transmission. In many cases, women learn about their HIV status only during late antenatal check-ups," said a senior health official associated with the programme. The Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS), which oversees HIV control initiatives, has written to district health facilities to ensure that pregnant women with HIV are linked to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres. These centres provide comprehensive care and treatment aimed at suppressing the viral load and reducing the risk of transmission of the virus. Health officials pointed out that parents of newborns presenting with repeated opportunistic infections such as persistent cough, tuberculosis or pneumonia - are generally screened for HIV/AIDS. However, a significant gap remains in private healthcare reporting. "While government facilities routinely screen pregnant women for HIV, private hospitals and clinics do not share data with the government. That is a major cause of concern," said an executive from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working with people living with HIV (PLHIV). In contrast, states such as neighbouring West Bengal and several in the south mandate private facilities to conduct HIV tests for expectant mothers and share data with state authorities. Bihar is yet to implement such measures. Despite this, Bihar has been recognised among the top 10 states in terms of HIV screening coverage for pregnant women. During an online review last week, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) praised the state for achieving 104% testing coverage. However, officials admitted that this figure largely reflects government sector data, while private-sector reporting remains negligible. Experts argue that unless Bihar makes HIV screening and reporting mandatory in private facilities, as done in some other states, the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission will remain elusive....