PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Health Department has reported a significant rise in HIV cases across the province, with 1,147 new infections recorded this year, bringing the total number of registered patients to 8,356. According to official data, the registered HIV patients in KP include:
• 6,105 males
• 2,080 females
• 171 transgender individuals
The provincial capital, Peshawar, reported 250 new cases this year alone.
The report highlights the major causes of HIV transmission among the infected individuals:
• 1,102 cases linked to the use of contaminated syringes
• 818 cases caused by unsafe blood transfusions
The province also reported 1,486 deaths due to HIV-related complications this year, reflecting the severity of the epidemic.
While most cases are from KP, the report also includes patients from other regions:
• 1,378 from merged districts
• 352 from Afghanistan
• 112 from Punjab
• 33 from Sindh
• 11 from Balochistan
• 14 from Gilgit-Baltistan
• 5 each from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Islamabad
The surge in cases underscores the urgent need for increased awareness, safe medical practices, and accessible healthcare facilities to combat the spread of HIV in KP and beyond.