KP reports over 1,000 new HIV cases in 2024

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is grappling with an alarming rise in HIV infections, as new data from the provincial Health Department revealed that KP had reported 1,147 new cases this year.

Among these, 250 infections were recorded in Peshawar, underscoring the city’s vulnerability to the virus.

According to the Health Department, the province’s registered HIV patient count had surged to 8,356. Of these, 6,105 are men, 2,080 are women, and 171 are transgendered individuals. The virus has claimed 1,486 lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with Peshawar reporting the highest number of fatalities.

The majority of HIV patients-6,444 individuals-hail from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while 1,378 belong to the newly merged tribal districts. The province is also hosting 352 HIV-positive patients from Afghanistan, alongside smaller numbers from Punjab (112), Sindh (33), Balochistan (11), and Gilgit-Baltistan (14). Additionally, five patients each from Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir are receiving treatment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sexual transmission remains the leading cause of HIV in the region, accounting for 5,126 cases. Another 1,102 infections have been linked to the use of contaminated syringes, while unsafe blood transfusions are responsible for 818 cases.

The province is actively combating the epidemic through 13 free screening and treatment centres, including those in the merged districts. These facilities offer critical care to patients, but the increasing numbers underscore the urgent need for enhanced awareness and preventive measures.

Health experts said that greater efforts were required to curb the spread of HIV, including targeted awareness campaigns and stricter regulations on blood donations and medical practices. The rise in cases serves as a wake-up call for authorities to address the root causes and strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the region.