Karachi has highest prevalence of HIV patients: report

The port city has the highest number of HIV patients across the province, revealed a report by Sindh AIDS Control Programme (SACP), reports Geo News.

About 42,000 HIV patients are present in Karachi, the report added. Larkana, which is the Pakistan Peoples Party’s stronghold, is the second city with the most number of HIV patients.

Speaking on the issue, Karachi Additional Director Health Dr Nadeem Sheikh remarked that Karachi had the highest number of HIV patients in the past 20 years according to the Sindh government’s AIDS control programme.

“Pakistan is one of the few countries where there is a lack of awareness regarding HIV/AIDS,” the official remarked while speaking to Geo News.

“Due to its staff members and management issues, the SACP is not able to serve the people. This is also accepted by the provincial health minister.”

Sindh Health Minister Sikandar Ali Mandhro said HIV screenings were not conducted in hospitals or jails. Moreover, medicines to treat the disease are also not readily available.

People are first diagnosed with HIV and then later, due to an infection, may develop AIDS.

The virus seeks to affect people’s immune system and weakens it.

The patients then become susceptible to various other illnesses, such as tuberculosis and tumours.