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| 626 HIV-positive patients registered at PIMS |
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Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Muhammad Qasim
Islamabad
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has so far registered 626 HIV-positive patients at its centre for treatment of AIDS since its establishment in 2006.
Out of these patients, 19 are children and 60% of the total cases are male, while 31% are females. The hospital is giving specific treatment of AIDS to as many as 270 patients as the disease is in final stage in them, said PIMS Spokesman Dr. Waseem Khawaja while talking to ‘The News’ here on Tuesday in connection with World AIDS Day.
He said that most HIV-positive patients registered at the PIMS belong to NWFP and interior Punjab. “As far as the cause of HIV in these patients is concerned, most male patients had been working abroad where they got infected. When they come home from abroad, they infect their families, including newborns.”
He said that the cause of the disease in Pakistan is mostly intravenous drug abuse. “The PIMS, in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), is providing free treatment to HIV-positive patients along with all costly investigations like PCR and CD4. These tests cost Rs18,000 to Rs20,000 in private sector,” said Dr. Waseem Khawaja.
To a query, he said that the AIDS clinic is established in the OPD of PIMS and patients who want their check-up or if they have any problem can contact the doctors there.
He said that awareness should be raised among the public about the disease and the role of media is very important in this connection. “The people who come from abroad and intravenous drug abusers must get themselves checked,” he said.
Health experts, however, believe that in Pakistan the number of unregistered patients of HIV is much higher than the registered cases because of stigma attached to the disease.
AIDS is caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that infects cells of the human immune system, destroying or impairing their function. AIDS is also called ‘Slim Disease’. In the early stages of infection, the person has no symptoms. However, as the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the more susceptible to so-called opportunistic infections like TB, neurological disorders and unusual cancers. Diagnosis of AIDS is made on the symptoms, signs and blood tests.
The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS. AIDS is the end-stage of HIV infection — usually person dies in 6 months. There is no specific treatment of AIDS; however, antiretroviral drugs can slow down the progress.
This year’s World AIDS Day observation is based on the theme, ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’. The idea is to ensure availability of HIV/AIDS services to all those in need and to protect the human rights of those who are infected with the virus, as well as families affected by it. The day seeks to prevent, reduce, and eliminate HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination and bring about positive behaviour change in individuals, especially among youth.
High Risk groups are: male homosexuals and bisexuals, prostitutes, IV drug abusers, transfusion recipients of blood and blood products, clients of sexually transmitted infections, prisoners and males having sex with males (MSM).
Across Asia Pacific, HIV infections are rising rapidly primarily among men having sex with men. “Significant levels of stigma, discrimination and criminalisation (of male homosexuality), there has been almost no investment in some countries for interventions targeting this group,” said Shivnanda Khan while talking to this correspondent a few days back. Khan heads the Naz Foundation International in Lucknow, India.
Studiers reveal that the three high-risk groups in Asia Pacific include IV injecting drug users, commercial sex workers and MSM. Health experts believe that AIDS is a silent killer that could be checked through preventive measures. Health education campaign should target youth and high-risk groups such as ‘hijras’ (eunuchs) and MSM, injecting drug users, and bridging population including truckers in more effective manner, they say.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
