LARKANA:Despite tall claims by the provincial government that it has contended HIV in Larkana, statistics showed Monday that positive cases among the adults continued to emerge on the eve of the World AIDS Day.
As many as 2,530 HIV cases were registered till 30th October, 2020 at the HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Centre, Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, out of which 1885 are males, 581 females, 21 children and 35 are transgenders.
Since 2007, HIV positive cases of 3142 people were registered till October 2,020 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 1632 are males, 547 females, 10 children and 31 are transgenders which were 3027 in June 2020. Many of them have either expired or left the centre for which data is kept. The data was obtained from the HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Centre working in Chandka Medical College Hospital on Monday.
Out of 2533 cases 1373 positive adult people 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. Few new Centres have been opened including Sehwan hence cases belonging to those areas are getting treatment at their nearby Centres.
According to the statistics, 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 HIV pregnant women were also referred till to date to Shaikh Zayed Women Hospital for Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT). As many as 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.
Over 500 children are registered at ART Centre, Larkana, credible sources confirmed whereas about 2000 cases are registered at Ratodero Centre out of whom 1500 are children and 50 among them have expired so far. For the viral load test, the affected children have to travel to Larkana, costing their parents extra. Since there are only four ART Centres in Sindh, a doctor working at Ratodero revealed adding children of other districts also arrive here and about 50 to 60 positive cases are examined daily in the OPD.
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 were occurring in other cities but had not yet been discovered.
Dr Saqib Shaikh, Additional Director General, Health Services, Sindh and incharge HIV/AIDS did not attend phone calls when contacted to have his comments on international day which shows the importance Sindh government has been giving to this emergency-like situation.