Islamabad The centre for treatment of AIDS at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has so far registered as many as 2,250 patients of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and the number is continuously on the rise. Data collected by 'The News' on World AIDS Day, December 1, reveals that the PIMS centre for treatment and prevention of aids that was established in 2005 by National Aids Control Programme had registered a total of 1,683 patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive and AIDS till December 2013 while in last two years, it registered another 567 patients with the problem. The centre registered nearly 300 patients with HIV positive and AIDS in 2015, however, it is found that social stigma is still the biggest hurdle for a number of patients to have treatment of HIV and AIDS at a public sector healthcare facility and it is alarming. At present, as many as 1,100 patients are on antiretroviral drugs treatment at the PIMS centre of which 702 are intravenous drug users (IDUs), said Professor Dr Rizwan Qazi who is heading the centre for treatment of AIDS at PIMS while talking to 'The News' on Tuesday. He added that of the total registered patients; well over 70 per cent are males while over 97 per cent of the registered patients are adults. He said the incidence of AIDS continues to spread in Pakistan and a huge number of cases might be still unreported and unregistered across the country. He said the most important thing to control spread of HIV and AIDS in Pakistan is to give due attention to establishment of rehabilitation facilities for IDUs. A number of non-government organisations and private clinics are providing rehabilitation services for the IDUs though the facilities are still inadequate, said Professor Rizwan. He explained that it is commonly observed that majority of drug users get to drug addiction even after getting rehabilitation treatment. To a query, he said the PIMS centre receives 250 to 300 patients of HIV positive and AIDS every year of which a good number of patients reach the hospital through NGOs. The catchment area of the PIMS centre includes almost all major cities of the country though greater number of patients have been reported from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock, Gujrat, Lahore, Mandi Bahauddin, Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Boner, Quetta, Zoab, Larkana, Nawabshah and areas from Gilgit-Baltistan, said Deputy Director at PIMS Dr. Wasim Ahmed Khawaja while talking to 'The News'. He added that of total 2,250 patients, 35 to 40 per cent are intravenous drug users while sexual transmission is found in over 55 per cent of the cases. He added that AIDS patients are being given treatment in complete confidentiality at PIMS and the centre is working in medical OPD of PIMS without any stigma so the patients should not be reluctant to come for treatment. He said that patients with HIV positive and AIDS can come to the PIMS Aids Centre from 8:00am to 2:00pm daily except on Sundays. He added that the consultation is free for all patients along with treatment, admission and tests. Dr. Khawaja reiterated that people who have multiple blood or blood transfusions, multiple dialysis, had unprotected sex, intravenous drug users or with multiple sex partners and homosexuals should get their tests done at the PIMS. He added that initial screening for AIDS is also free and the result is given in 30 minutes time and the data is kept confidential to save people coming to the centre from stigma.
