By Syed Mahmood Sherazi
The cases of HIV or AIDS are gradually decreasing every year worldwide, but the disease is increasing rapidly in Pakistan. Officials associated with the HIV AIDS Control Program in Pakistan say that the rate of cases in Pakistan has increased by about 84 percent in the past decade.
More than 50 HIV prevention treatment centers are functioning across the country where patient screening, medical treatment and counseling as well as free medicines are provided to the patient.According to the United Nations HIV Program, UNAIDS, the highest level of HIV spread worldwide was in 1996 when there was a 54 percent increase in cases.
This year 32 lakh people were affected by AIDS. Last year, there were about 1.5 million new cases of HIV worldwide, but during the period from 2010 to now, there was a 32 percent decrease in new cases, while in Pakistan, 84 percent of new cases were reported during the same period. A hundred has increased.
According to a conservative estimate based on official data, there are about 240,000 HIV cases across the country, of which 54,000 patients have reached treatment centers while 33,000 are taking regular medication. As compared to the world community as a whole, HIV disease is increasing rapidly in Pakistan.
According to experts, transmission of AIDS in Pakistan is happening only through drug addicts. In addition, used syringes, blood transfusions and easy supply of drugs have also become sources of HIV spread.
With the passage of time, awareness and consciousness is also awakening in the society and now common people also insist on new blades from barbers and new syringes from medical centers.
According to the Sindh Health Department, more than 1 million people have been screened during the last three years and treatment centers have been established in different areas for HIV-infected people. According to the experts, the government is trying but still many people in the society shy away from getting themselves screened for HIV.
Pakistani society still has this misconception about HIV that this disease is contracted or spread only through illicit sex. Experts believe that in the 1980s, HIV was said to be an incurable disease, which is not the case at all. HIV is 100% curable disease. HIV is currently spreading rapidly in Pakistan through people who inject drugs. Then there are blood transfusions, transgender and sex workers.
According to medical experts such as blood pressure or diabetes. As soon as these diseases are diagnosed in a person, they have to take medicines for the rest of their life. Exactly the same has to be done with an HIV-infected patient. According to medical experts, after taking one pill daily, within 90 days, the ability to transfer the disease to another person ends and the patient starts living a normal life.
Free, improved HIV medication, treatment and diagnosis are available in Pakistan۔Experts say that to control the HIV disease, first of all we have to change our attitude. Then there will be more screening and HIV will have to be recognized as a disease because that is how it can be controlled.
