Another 21 HIV cases detected in Ratodero

Author: Jamal Dawoodpoto

As many as 21 new HIV positive cases were detected out of 375 people screened on Wednesday at a blood testing camp established at the Taluka Hospital in Ratodero, bringing the total number of affected patients to 85 out of 2,304 people screened. This was disclosed by Sindh AIDS Control Programme Programme Manager Dr Sikandar Memon while talking to this scribe. He said he was satisfied with the work underway, but added that screening was an additional job for them. He said it was an emergency-like situation, while the ratio was alarming. He said data regarding the patients would be shared with the National AIDS Control Programme, health minister, secretary and other stakeholders, such as the UNICEF, WHO and Global Fund. He said work was also underway at the Disease Surveillance Cell at the office of the Sindh Health Services Director General in Hyderabad to ascertain how this virus spread among the residents.