Daily Times

LARKANA: As many as 25 new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive cases have been detected and registered in November at the HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Center.

According to the HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Center 15 cases of HIV belong to Larkana district alone and four among them were females of under 40-years.

The international community will observe World AIDS Day on December 01 but the lack of awareness continue to hit the general population hard as most of them are still unaware of safe sex and safe blood transfusion.

The number of registered HIV positive cases at the center have rose to 2,276. At the end of July the registered number was 2,120 and in four months as many as 156 new cases have been registered, which shows approximately 40 new cases detected every month at the center which indeed is very alarming situation.

Larkana continue to top the list as it has 1,007 numbers of positive cases, Kambar-Shahdadkot and Dadu District stood second with 342 and 335 cases respectively.

Dr Hola Ram, incharge of the center said that number of positive cases is rising day-by-day for which more effective awareness drive is essentially needed from cities to remote villages.

He said that positive cases among Male Sex Workers (MSN) and Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) increasing rapidly, which must be controlled.

Dr Farooq Rahman Soomro, former focal person, HIV/AIDS in Larkana, told Daily Times that 2-3 months back three different kids under 10-years were brought at Children Hospital after getting treatment at various place but could not be cured. They were tested for HIV along with their parents and all were found positive.

On inquiry, he added, it was revealed by their parents that they were infected from usage of same syringe by the quacks. He said that tri-gender is the most HIV affected class followed by IDUs and commercial sex workers.

He said every patient needed care, support and awareness through seminars and workshops Eunuchs should also be screened who are involved in commercial sexting, he added and said that it should also be made mandatory that blood should be completely screened before transfusion, for which all private and public sector hospitals must be forced to use fully screened blood only

He said laboratories and blood banks must be legalized in the province at all costs to prevent spread of this dreaded viral disease. He said repeated use of same syringe is banned but it needs proper implementation and quack clinics should also be sealed across the province.