Historically, AIDS and HIV have not received much attention in Pakistan either because of infection rates that failed to achieve seriously high levels or underreporting. This could prove to be a mistake in the near future. There are numerous factors that could lead to rates of the disease climbing in the future. Rates of intravenous drug uses are high in Pakistan because of the opiate addiction problem it has gotten because of its proximity to Afghanistan. According to a 2013 UNODC report on opiate and intravenous drug use in the country; 1.6 percent of Balochistan’s population uses opiates, whereas Punjab is home to 260,000 people who regularly take narcotics illegally. 80 percent of these people sharing needles.
Additionally, there is also little access to contraception, and even those who reside in areas with access to contraceptives hardly use them because of lack of awareness or religious objections.
Now it seems the country may have a problem on its hands. This Thursday, 13 children tested positive for HIV in Larkana. Two days later, it emerged that 12 more children from the area had the disease.
Though it may be shocking to learn that 25 children in such a small district have HIV, perhaps it shouldn’t. Out of the 100,000 people in Sindh who are confirmed HIV positive, only 10,350 have sought medical attention for their problem. It is likely that many patients simply choose to keep living their lives. This is tragic, considering that those who test positive for HIV and AIDS can live longer, more fulfilling lives with medical help. Because of modern medicine their lifespans can often be as long as the HIV-negative population. Whats worse is that because of lack of education, many of these people will pass on the disease. Usually to their spouses first.
The government of Sindh and the centre should both take notice of the issue before we have a pandemic on our hands. Countrywide education should be the first priority, followed by the issue being prioritised by the Ministry of Health. If left ignored, a much larger chunk of the population could fall prey to HIV and AIDS. *