Karachi: Dozens of people both adults and children are testing positive for HIV on weekly basis in four talukas of Sindh where spread of HIV in general population is being observed since 2019, federal and provincial officials claimed.

“HIV cases are regularly being reported from four notorious talukas of Larkana, Jacobabad, Qambar Shahdadkot and Shikarpur districts, which are geographically attached to each other. Newly infected people include both adults and children and main reason is poor Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)”, an official of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS, R&C) told.

Federal health officials informed that around 21 new HIV cases were reported from these four districts in last week of February 2023, adding similar number of HIV-positive cases among both adults and children that have regularly been reported from this area for last four years.

“HIV is now spreading into general population in these four districts of Sindh from where over 60 percent HIV cases ae being reported from general population while remaining 40 percent are being reported from key populations including injectable drug users, transgender men, men having sex with men and female sex workers,” official added.

Pakistan reported world’s largest HIV outbreak among children in 2019 when hundreds of children were found infected with HIV in Ratodero Taluka of Larkana and since then, around 2,800 children have so far tested positive for HIV in Ratodero and adjoining areas.

Confirming detection of new HIV cases in four talukas of Sindh on regular basis, an official of Communicable Disease Control Sindh said presence of thousands of quacks and poor Infection Prevention and Control were among two other main reasons behind spread of HIV in area.

Dr Kazmi said adding that poor IPC practices were main cause of continuous HIV spread in area.

He maintained that he had recently drawn attention of Director General (of Health Sindh towards lack of IPC in healthcare settings across Sindh, which was resulting in spread of HIV and viral hepatitis and urged him to immediately establish an IPC cell in province to prevent spread of HIV and other blood-borne diseases in province.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 08 2023

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