LARKANA: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho has said that surfacing of HIV cases in Ratodero had reduced now, but panic had gripped the residents and the affected people.
She was talking to newsmen in Ratodero after visiting the screening camp along with WHO delegation on Thursday. She said WHO team had brought medicines for HIV patients which had been handed over to them.
She said: “The money is coming from global funds, but the question here is how to utilize the funds.” She said so far, 712 HIV positive cases had been detected in Ratodero, treatment and diagnostic centers for them are being opened, and WHO will extend help in this connection.”
The health minister said HIV positive children would be handled by them in a better atmosphere for which community should also come forward. She said awareness would be made in schools so that students might be able to know about this viral disease.
She claimed that health officials were constantly monitoring the prevailing situation in the affected areas. She said WHO team would get information from different communities, visit screening camps and treatment centers and after investigation, it would submit its detailed report.
Pechuho said that this issue would not be politicized. She said that federal and Sindh governments were preparing a strategy to control and eliminate HIV virus. She said HIV virus had become a challenge for us.
Later she held a meeting with WHO team members at Darbar Hall, Larkana, which was also participated by Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, relevant health officers of PPHI, EPI, DHO and others.
Head of the WHO delegation Oliver Morgan said that they had come here to investigate how this virus spread and from where did it come. He said WHO is ready to help the affected persons.
Health Secretary Dr. Saeed Mangnejo visited early morning screening camp at Ratodero where he found some doctors absent from duty and marked them absent in the muster roll.