In Sindh province, Pakistan, more than half of HIV patients remain untreated: WHO



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KARACHI: According to the World Health Organization, more than half of the 751 people diagnosed with HIV in South Sindh Province, Pakistan, have still not been treated.
Positive cases for HIV were identified among the 21,375 people tested in Larkana in May and of the 603 affected, 604 are between 2 and 15 years old.
Health officials attributed the cause to the use of unhealthy equipment, unsafe blood transfusions and widespread malfeasance, often at the hands of charlatans.
A report from WHO experts, who are in Pakistan to investigate the HIV epidemic and support local authorities in their response to the medical emergency, says more than half of the patients Sindh are still deprived of any type of treatment center.
The WHO team reported that 751 people were tested positive for HIV, of which 604 were children.
The report says that only 324 patients (47%) have received treatment so far, while 427 (53%) are still waiting for medical badistance.
According to the report, providing the necessary medicines is a major challenge, as Pakistan has only stocks to treat 240 of the 604 affected children.
He further indicated that stocks of drugs used to treat 240 children from different hospitals would only last until July 15.
The HIV epidemic was first reported on April 25th and a major HIV testing program was launched on April 28th.
Muzaffar Ghangro, a district doctor, was arrested in the Ratodero City Medical Center in Larkana District on suspicion of spreading the HIV virus with the help of infected syringes at his medical center.
A joint police investigation team from Sindh said it exonerated the doctor from having deliberately infected people with the virus, but confirmed that the doctor was one of the main sources of spread of the virus.
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