157 children amongst 185 suspected HIV patients in Larkana

KARACHI: The Sindh AIDS Control Program (SACP) has successfully screened more than 4700 people in Larkana and its adjoining areas. However, 185 suspected HIV cases were detected during the screening procedure. Sadly, 157 of these suspected HIV patients are children.

Provincial Director, Sindh AIDS Control Program, Dr Sikander Memon, said that the screening of the residents in Larkana, Ratodero, and its slum areas had been underway for the last ten days through screening camps.

He informed that the SACP had screened more than 4700 people; out of which 185 HIV suspected cases had been reported so far.

He further explained that 157 out of the total 185 suspected HIV cases are children and these cases will be reconfirmed through lab reports. He stated that HIV/AIDS screening camps are being organized in the high-risk areas of Larkana, Ratodero, Allah Dino Sailro, Thand Buzdar, and other villages.

Dr Memon said that people are not aware of their health status due to poverty and lack of awareness in society. He said that screening of people in high-risk areas would be continued across the Sindh province and data would be shared with the National AIDS Control Program to devise a comprehensive strategy to control the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the society.

An estimated 131000 HIV/AIDS infected people live in Pakistan; out of which 56,000 patients are in Sindh.

The Sindh AIDS Control Program has registered more than 15,000 HIV infected patients since the start of program amongst which the treatment of 10000 patients is underway across the province.