Daily Times

LAHORE: Like other countries, World AIDS Day is being celebrated in Pakistan on Friday (today) to stress the need for joint effort in the fight against HIV.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is still one of the greatest public health challenges faced by low and middle-income countries. There are 36.7 million individuals living with AIDS in the world, out of which 2.1 million are children less than 15 years old.

AIDS is the last stage of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) when the body can no longer fight life threatening infections. A patient is diagnosed with AIDS when the patient’s CD4 count falls below the defined threshold. The development of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) marks the latest advancement in the treatment of HIV due to which HIV positive patients can now expect to lead a long and healthy life. This was stated by Dr Faisal Sultan, the chief executive officer and consultant infectious diseases at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, on the World AIDS Day.

“Due to the cooperation of Punjab AIDS Control Programme, facilities to provide treatment and other services to the patients of AIDS are now available in various hospitals in Punjab. SKMCHRC also offers diagnostic testing services and medicines including (ART) to the AIDS patients. Although AIDS is not curable at this point in time, treatment is available that can significantly improve the quality of life of AIDS patients,” he said.

While discussing symptoms of this disease, he explained that AIDS included consistent weight loss, skin diseases, and repeated occurrence of infections such as pneumonia. He emphasized on public awareness about the transmission of HIV such as avoiding used syringes, transfusion of blood that is not screened, and unprotected sex. “This potentially fatal disease exists in almost every country. According to the National AIDS Control Programme, Pakistan has about a 130,000 patients suffering from AIDS,” he said.

“The needle exchange programme also is a debatable subject all over the world. It is a major cause of promoting addiction in our social set up and government should focus on reduction of the problems of drug addicts,” he said.

Separately, ‘No Syringe – Need Life’ programme was organised by Drug Advisory Training Hub (DATH) and Youth Council for Anti-Narcotics (YOCFAN) on Thursday. Consultant, Anti Drug/Narcotics Campaign Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, Dr Ikramul Islam, Alia Akbar and Kubra Imtiaz attended the event.

“Roshani Gate, Taxali Gate, Davis Road, Ali Park, Data Darbar area, Lari Adda, Royal Park, Ravi Road, Lohari Gate, Bhatti Gate, Nasir Bagh, Shahra-e-Fatimah Jinnah, Railway Station, Chauburji Park, Nisbat Road, Lakshmi Chowk and Bund Road are the major areas where injection drug users (IDUs) can be found in large numbers,” Syed Hussain said. “Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education,” he added. He said the total population of Lahore was now 12 million, and it was unfortunate that thousands of drug addicts were involved in using drugs in public places, like gardens and footpaths in different areas of the city.

He said that Lahore was still ranked second (after Karachi) where drug addiction was very high. He said that most of those addicts were IDUs. He said that government must announce the drug policy at the provincial level, it should invite all stakeholders before formation of the policy.

“The government must ensure that all controlled drugs being sold at medical stores are given to consumers only on the prescription of a medical doctor,” he said, adding that the Health Department must check drug abuse through proper inspection.

Dr Ikramul Islam spoke about the mode of transmutation from one person to another person and others factors of HIV spread.

Published in Daily Times, December 1^st 2017.