An alarming increase in cases of HIV in Pakistan

Karachi: Experts presented concerns about the alarming rate of HIV/AIDS incidents in Pakistan. 25,000 new cases of HIV/AIDS were reported last year. 

A meeting with long-term survivors suffering from HIV and initiatives for safe injection practices were launched by Bridge Consultants Foundation (BCF). BCF is a non-profit organization that works with the local community in Ratodero, Larkana, with the support of the United Nations Children's Fund. 

The experts raised the issues about HIV/AIDS recently at a local hotel to observe World AIDS Day. 

According to professionals, the key reason for the prevalence of HIV is the absence of infection control practices in the healthcare services, and people are generally not aware of this disease. Experts further claimed that 80 per cent of the Pakistanis are not aware of this condition. 

Further, experts enlightened the ways to curb HIV/AIDS in Pakistan and asserted that no government in the World could eradicate any communicable disease without implementing a vigorous and robust mechanism for prevention and control of infection. 

The mechanism should comprise safe practices while administrating injection, employing personal protection equipment in hospitals and clinics, safe collection and safe disposal of medical waste and proper disinfection of rooms. 

Dr Sharaf Ali Shah stated, "But, there is no concept of infection control practices even at government-owned tertiary care hospitals in our country. We have seen hospital washrooms either without water or soap while it's common to see used syringes being thrown away in dustbins instead of separate boxes".

As per the experts, the foremost cause for alarming HIV cases reported in Gujrat, Sargodha and Larkana in recent years was mainly the unsafe and inappropriate use of injection.