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- The widespread use of therapeutic injections in Pakistan is one of the main causes of the increase in HIV transmission, says Dr Kazmi.
- Because of unsafe injecting practices, there could be large numbers of people infected with HIV without knowing their status, he says.
- Over 800 million therapeutic injections are administered each year in Pakistan, which is the highest in the world, says Dr Kazmi.
Karachi Central District has the highest number of patients infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the province, where 2,725 people have been infected with the viral infectious disease, communicable disease control officials said (CDC) in Sindh, The news reported Monday.
Addressing a training workshop for journalists in Karachi, CDC (HIV / AIDS) Additional Director Sindh, Dr Irshad Kazmi said: “Karachi central district has the highest number of people living with HIV. in the province, while Larkana is in second place with 2,430 people living with HIV, including more than 1,200 children. Overall, Karachi has more than 6,768 people living with HIV, which is the highest number of people infected with HIV in the province.
The two-day interactive training, “The role of the media in strengthening the response to HIV”, is organized by UNAIDS in collaboration with the CDC leadership of the Sindh Department of Health, UNFPA and the Karachi Press Club (KPC) where journalists from local, regional and international media are trained in sensitive reporting on issues of HIV and AIDS, population, gender-based violence and sexually transmitted diseases.
Widespread use of therapeutic injections in Pakistan is one of the main causes of increased transmission of HIV, Dr Kazmi said, adding that more than 800 million therapeutic injections are administered annually in Pakistan, this which means that each person receives 4.5 injections per year, which is the highest in the world.
“The other major factor contributing to the increase in HIV transmission in the country is the presence of thousands of charlatans, who are involved in unsafe injection practices and poor control of infection prevention,” said he said, adding that even international disease control and donor agencies had blamed these two factors as the main causes of the HIV epidemic among children from the Ratodero region to Larkana.
According to the expert, it is estimated that around 70,000 to 78,000 people are infected with HIV in Sindh, of whom 15,952 are registered with the CDC Directorate, and among them 13,864 – 9,166 men, 2,461 women, 1,126 boys, 730 girls and 421 transgender people – are on treatment and receiving antiretroviral drugs.
Dr Kazmi said: “So far 1,939 people infected with HIV, registered with the health department, have lost their lives in the province, including 1,492 men, 217 women, 131 boys, 72 girls and women. 27 transgender people.
The health official argued that due to unsafe injection practices and infection prevention and control issues, there could be large numbers of people infected with HIV without knowing their status.
“HIV infection is treatable and hundreds of people infected with HIV lead normal lives with regular medication. Medicines for the treatment of HIV are provided free of charge to patients registered with us, ”he added.
UNAIDS experts Fahmida Khan and Dr Rajwal Khan shared statistics from Pakistan and, using multimedia presentations and data, urged journalists to play their part in helping people living with HIV.
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