By Muhammad Qasim
There are 6,000 registered cases and 97,400 estimated cases of HIV/AIDS in 2009 in the country, as against 5,000 registered cases and 80,000 estimated cases in 2008 and this figure is continuously increasing.
Pakistan which was previously thought as a country with low prevalence of infection has now moved up to the group of ‘Countries in Transition’ with a concentrated epidemic among high risk groups, where the HIV/AIDS problem is increasing since last five years. If proper screening is carried out, the number of infected persons might be running in millions.
There are serious risk factors such as widespread poverty, significant power imbalances in men and women, low literacy rate especially among women, labour migration, lack of any system to check the HIV positive deported persons, indiscriminate transfusion of unscreened blood, use of non-sterilised medical instruments, re-use of used syringes and needles, quackery, community dental clinics, street barbers, unsafe sex, commercial sex, rising number of drug addicts, low condom use rates etc that put Pakistan in danger of facing a rapid spread of HIV if immediate and vigorous action is not taken.
“Curiosity about sex and drugs, negative peer pressure, and economic frustration might all lead young people to engage in behaviours which could lead to HIV infection,” said Head of Community Medicine at Islamabad Medical & Dental College Colonel (r) Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry while talking to ‘The News’ in connection with World AIDS Day which is being observed on December 1 around the globe.
“As the disease carries a stigma, the people hesitate in getting screened for HIV. Injecting Drugs Users (IDUs), as well as male and ‘hijra’ sex workers are the key drivers. In 2005-06, only 9% of the IDUs tested were found to be HIV positive; this percentage increased to 15.8% in 2006-07, and more than 20% in 2007-08,” he said.
World AIDS Day, observed each year on December 1, is dedicated to raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It provides an opportunity to express solidarity and support for those living with HIV/AIDS, and to ensure that pandemic is kept on the national and international agenda. Red Ribbon is global symbol of solidarity with people living with HIV & AIDS.
To a query, Dr Ashraf said that National AIDS Control Programme (NCP) is providing free treatment to any person found to be suffering from AIDS through its 20 AIDS Treatment Centres all over the country.
HIV is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of contaminated needles, contaminated instruments in operation theatres and dental clinics, and between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
Dr Ashraf, however, said that evidence shows that new drug combination dramatically reduces mother-to-child transmission of HIV during breastfeeding. HIV is not transmitted through casual, everyday contact, shaking hands, hugging or kissing, coughing or sneezing, giving blood, using swimming pools, or toilet seats, sharing bed linen, eating utensils or food or by mosquitoes and other insects and animals,” he said. “Since there is no vaccine or no definite cure of AIDS, prevention of HIV infection is the only answer,” said Dr Ashraf.