LARKANA:,,, Despite tall claims by the provincial government that it has contended HIV in Larkana, statistics prove that the disease positive cases among the adults continued to emerge. As many as 2,522 HIV cases are presently registered till 26th October 2020 at the HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Centre, Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, out of which 1,885 are males, 581 females, 21 children and 35 are transgenders, it was learnt through credible sources on Friday.
Since 2007, HIV positive cases of 3,142 people were registered till October 2020 and 2,278 of them were males, 788 females, 40 children and 36 were eunuchs. Out of 2,522 registered patients 2,220 are on HAART out of which 1,632 are males, 547 females, 10 children and 31 are transgenders which were 3,027 in June 2020. Many of them have either expired or left the centre for which data is kept.
The 1,365 positive adult cases belong to Larkana district alone, 477 to Kambar-Shahdadkot, 218 to Shikarpur, 246 to Khairpur, 112 to Jacobabad, 60 Kashmore-Kandhkot, 97 Sukkur, 337 Dadu, 37 Ghotki, 96 Naushahro Feroze, 14 Nawabshah, 23 Jaffarabad (Balochistan) and others.
Most of the affected people since 2007 are young between the age group of 16-30 years as their number is 1703 which is extremely worrisome. Then 914 people between 31-40 years have been infected, the number of 41-50 years age is 333 and 111 people have been suffering from this viral disease whose age is between 51-60 years. 37 are from 61 to 70, four are from 70 to 80 and 40 are children.
In this way, 170 pregnant women were referred from 2007 till to date to Shaikh Zayed Hospital for Women for Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT). 137 patients are suffering from Hepatitis C which include 111 males, 25 females and one transgender, 43 from Hepatitis B and 118 are tuberclosis patients.
When asked, former provincial program manager, Sindh AIDS Control Program (SACP), Dr. Sharaf Ali Shah said that no efforts had so far been made to investigate if a similar situation of Larkana and Ratodero existed in other cities of Sindh or any other province. He said authorities wake up only when it’s too late. He said that it’s highly likely that mini outbreaks are occurring in other cities but have not yet been discovered.