Daily Times

LARKANA: The Sindh health department has failed to curb the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as 259 patients were diagnosed with HIV-positive in Larkana district in just eight months, while diagnoses of other sexually transmitted diseases surged to record highs, according to the statistics obtained by Daily Times on Wednesday.

Till November, 2017, the total number of HIV-patients was 1,861, which has risen to 2,120 in the end of July, 2018.

The new treatment and care centers for HIV/AIDs were established by former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah at selected hospitals across the province, however, Larkana has dominated the HIV list with 950 patients, followed by Kambar-Shahdadkot district with 314 cases whereas Dadu district ranked third with 217 patients.

The Khairpur district has 184 while Shikarpur district has 128 HIV positive patients.

The AIDs care center in Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH), in Larkana, has been providing treatment to all these patients.

The statistics further revealed that the most affected age group of the disease was between 18-30 years with 1,120 patients, while the age group between 31-40 years had 595 patients and between 41-40 years, there were 235 patients.

Out of the total 2,120 cases, 208 patients were found to be also suffering from Hepatitis C including 19 females, 25 (three females and one transgender) were suffering from Hepatitis B, whereas 100 patients were on anti-Kock treatment.

The statistics clearly indicate the alarming situation of HIV spread in Larkana, which needs to be addressed on the priority basis.

A proper check and monitoring system is required to reassess the overall functionality of the Sindh AIDS Control Program.

Published in Daily Times, August 2^nd 2018.