HIV/AIDS patients number disclosed in Pakistan

HIV/AIDS patients number disclosed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: (APP) HIV/AIDS patients number disclosed in Pakistan

 

Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tara Wednesday said there were around 94,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in the country.

 

However, she said during question-hour in the Senate, that there were 15,370 people registered in 21 HIV treatment centers, across the country.

 

She also these patients were being provided medicines and medical treatment free of cost, adding more patients were being registered as a result of effective services and growing trust of the patients and communities in getting free of cost testing and treatment services.

 

Similarly, she added the maternal mortality rate in Pakistan was 276 out of 100,000 live births.

 

She said the Government was working to control maternal mortality rate and action plan on reproductive, maternal, and neonatal and child health (RMNCH) was being prepared to consolidate and accelerate the progress to achieve MDG targets (To bring mortality rates down) by the end of year.

 

She said the resuscitation and basic EmoNC facilities were being provided at basic health units that have brought down maternal mortality rates.

 

She said the deliveries were now being conducted by skilled community Midwives in all the healthcare facilities and at Health Houses that had significantly reduced the mortality at birth, for both mother and child.

 

Through RMNCH Trust fund, Ministry in collaboration with provinces, partner agencies and regions, was training Community Midwives and other medical personnel in order to strengthen human resource and service delivery, she added.

 

She said National Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Program was continuing in the provinces after devolution focusing on maternal, newborn and child health in the country.

 

This program had decreased both IMR and MMR throughout country by providing better EmoNC services at basic health units.

 

She said National Program for Family Planning and Primary Health Care through its network of 96,000 community based Lady Health Workers had a substantial impact on the uptake of important primary health services which include a large and positive impact on Childhood vaccination rates, and Lower rates of childhood diarrhea & pneumonia.

 

The government had also adopted a life-cycle approach and recognizes the importance of optimal nutrition for women in 28 order to minimize the risks associated with malnutrition.

 

Securing good nutritional status of women across the life course would in the long term reduce intrauterine growth restriction, child underweight and stunting, she added.