By: Asim Nawaz Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: In the course of the last ten months of 2022, around 9,773 individuals among them most are youths have tested positive for HIV in Pakistan questioning the credibility of HIV prevention and control efforts, the official statistics cited by health authorities in Islamabad.
Despite Pakistan spending a hefty amount from Global Fund to stave off the rise of HIV, the infections and diseases do not seem to cease anytime soon. According to UNAIDS, a great percentage of low-danger adult males, women, and clients of key populations are the newly infected ones suggesting a hike in HIV transmission to bridging populations (spouses, companions, and clients) of key populations.
“Every month, more or less 1000 new HIV cases are being reported from all four provinces, capital Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. This clearly indicates that HIV is now spreading to general population from the key populations including people who inject drugs, male, female and transgender sex workers and those involved in homosexuality”, an official of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS,R&C) told media.
Official data available with The Dayspring reported Punjab to be most effective region in the country-where 6,106 individuals had been tested positive from January to October 2022,. In Sindh, in span of 10 months 2,097 individuals, and in KPK 815 cases within span of 12 months, 316 new case from Balochistan and lastly, 496 new HIV cases have been reported from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) from January to October 2022, official data cites.
Mentioning the details of reported cases timeline-wise in provinces, In Punjab 4 individuals have been tested positive in January, 475 in February, 572 in March, 547 in April, 610 in May, 723 in June, 669 in July, 701 in August, 712 in September and 697 within the month of October 2022, the official data indicates.
With 2,097 new cases 10 months of of current year, Sindh was second with new HIV cases where 164 cases were reported in January, 148 in February, 182 in March, 201 in April, 183 in May, 211 in June, 181 in July, 169 in August, 236 in September and a hundred and forty new cases have been stated in October 2022, according to official data.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had 815 new cases in the first 10 months of the current year with seventy one new cases pronounced in January, 96 in February, 71 in March, sixty one in April, 68 in May, eighty five in June, 84 in July, 87 in August, a hundred and one in September and ninety one in October 2022.
Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) mentioned 496 new HIV cases in first 10 months of 2022, with 36 cases in January, 57 in February, 38 in March, 33 in April, 43 in May, 70 two in June, fifty one in July, 59 in August, 60 in September and 47 in October 2022, the official facts indicated.
Balochistan had the bottom number of recent HIV cases in the first 10 months of the cutting-edge 12 months in which 259 HIV cases had been reported in January, 18 in February, 27 in March, 31 in April, 21 in May, forty in June, 19 in July, 27 in August, 29 in September and 15 inside the month of October 20022, the official statistics suggests.
Agha Khan University (AKU) renowned infectious disease expert and professional on HIV Dr. Faisal Mehmood, while formulating the reasons behind the alarming prevalence of HIV stated the problem to be taking rise from Men-having-Sex-with-Men MSM and penurious prevention control management in the country.
“MSM is one of the biggest key populations in which HIV is spreading fast in Pakistan because Pakistani MSM have very different characteristics as compared to the rest of the world. Secondly, poor infection prevention and control is the major reason behind increasing cases of HIV in the country”, he delivered.
Dr. Mehmood, further pointed the healthcare system turning out to be the biggest wrongdoer in spreading HIV in Pakistan and he warned the situation backed up by consequences, is that in no time HIV’s prevalence will be in millions just like Hepatitis C which spread with the equal means as HIV.