From correspondents in Delhi, India, 08:07 PM IST

As many as 96,942 children tested positive for AIDS during the last three years in India, Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi said Tuesday.

The highest was in Andhra Pradesh with 22,559 children testing positive for the disease followed by 21,835 in Maharashtra and 15,082 in Tamil Nadu.

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Trivedi said: 'The government has taken several steps to protect children from HIV infection.

'Identification, counseling and prophylactic treatment to HIV positive pregnant women and new born babies, diagnosis of HIV positive children and spreading public awareness.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)