LARKANA:The Sindh government is providing free treatment and medicines to HIV/AIDS patients while four centers are working for the treatment of HIV/ AIDS in Larkana district, to make the country free from AIDS by 2030.
This was claimed by participating doctors in an awareness rally taken out here from Shaikh Zayed Women Hospital which after marching through various roads culminated at Jinnah Bagh on World AIDS Day.
The incharge HIV/AIDS Treatment Centre, Larkana, Dr. Hola Ram, Dr. Aneela Isran led the rally which was also joined by Chandka Hospital additional medical superintendent Dr. Gulzar Ahmed Tuinio, deputy medical superintendent Dr. Hassan Ali Chandio, Prof. Shaista Shaikh, Dr. Saleemullah Shaikh, Prof. Fauzia Kashif, Dr. Shama Shah, NGOs and others.
The participants said that efforts are being made to tackle HIV/AIDS, and society should play its active role as well because AIDS treatment is now possible. “Patients should use certified blood to prevent this deadly disease and be limited to their life partner”. They said patients should always use new syringes and hairdressers should always use new blades. They further said that usage of sterilized tools while cutting teeth, ear and nose must be ensured, they added. They said that if anyone has a constant fever for up to a month they should contact local area doctors after appearing to be also suffering from shortness of breath, weight loss, feeling of severe fatigue, memory impairment, mental stress and other symptoms.
Meanwhile, Bridge Consultants Foundation (BCF), also took out a large rally in Ratodero from Allahwala Chowk which was also participated by a large number of civil society. BCF Project Manager Altaf Ahmed Soomro while talking to newsmen said that there are 3336 registered HIV positive cases in Larkana and over 1700 in Ratodero adding 80% among them are children. A meeting of mothers of the affected children was also arranged at Circuit House in Ratodero to express solidarity with them. They also arranged an awareness meeting with religious leaders.