KARACHI – Pakistan already experiencing concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemics intwo high risk groups of injection drug users (IDUs) and male sex workers(MSWs) including transgenders requires greater focuson health literacy to effectively prevent spread of human immuno viral.Health experts talking to APP Friday said the World Acquired ImmuneDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Day 2018 being observed on December One withthe theme “Know Your Status,” holds quite a relevance for Pakistan asmany still may not know the difference between HIV and AIDS, its signs andsymptoms and/or clinical features.”Since knowledge concerning the mode of transmission and preventionof Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV), that leads to AIDS, is somewhatbetter understood we find that there exists a societal stigma which inturn leads to under-reporting of cases,” said Dr. Ghulam Nabi Kazi asenior public health activist.The situation was said to aggravate further as communities oftendemonstrate a negative attitude towards patients of HIV/AIDS and even wherethe attitude is positive, serious myths and misconceptions existconcerning the disease that need to be addressed.Although there are estimated to be 75,000 to 150,000 HIV positivepatients in the country the number of cases currently registered withPakistan, National AIDS Control Program comes to 25,220 cases of whichthe eligible 15,390 cases have been put on anti-retroviral treatment.NACP has been working with high-risk groups (including male andfemale commercial sex workers, injectable drug users, men having sexwith men and transgenders), duly educating and counseling them whilecarrying out voluntary testing with utmost confidentiality.The Nation Program that has completed its sixth round of diseasesurveillance is registered to be faced with a significant problem thatstems from the sub-optimal health-seeking behavior of the affectedpatients.”It is an improvement which is crucial to access prompt treatmentthat can potentially improve the quality of life,” emphasized theexpert.A positive development, however, was cited to be several new waysof expanding access to HIV testing, such as self-testing,community-based testing and multi-disease testing helpful for peoplein knowing their HIV status.”Yet there are many promises to keep and miles to go before wesleep,” commented Dr. Kazi.”Our country despite maintaining a low prevalence is feared toface unexpected situation due to low literacy levels coupled withrampant risky behaviors such as high intravenous drug use,” said Dr.Sikander Iqbal associated with Sindh AIDS control Program.According to 2013 survey on drug use conducted by the UnitedNation’s Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 4.25 million people inPakistan are considered dependent on substances requiring structuredtreatment for their drug use disorder.Survey findings showed that cannabis alone had around 4 millionusers nationwide, while 860,000 people used heroin regularly,approximately 19,000 people used methamphetamine and nearly 1.6million people misused prescription opioids or painkillers fornon-medical use.Dr. Kazi, Communicable Diseases, Epidemiology, Health Systems andProgram Evaluation Specialist responding to a query said Pakistanis,in general, must also not be lulled into any complacency vis-a-visHIV/AIDS control while considering our religious beliefs.It was reminded that HIV prevalence is growing in several Islamiccountries due to risky and explicitly forbidden behaviors relating toimmoral sexual behaviors and habitually consuming harmful substances.”Furthermore, a traditionally weak system of blood transfusionhas been compounding problems in Pakistan,” said the seasonedprofessional with vast experience of working with WHO.In this context, he particularly referred to Tuberculosis (TB)that remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV,accounting for around one in three AIDS-related deaths.People living with HIV with no TB symptoms need TB preventativetherapy, that too, in the backdrop of the fact that half of peopleliving with HIV and tuberculosis are estimated to be unaware of theirco-infection and are therefore not receiving care.”The facts underlined above constitute the main ingredients todelineate Pakistan’s strategic priorities guiding the HIV response,”said the researchers.Health experts acknowledged that HIV/AIDS facilities have becomemuch more user-friendly in the intervening three decades, as comparedto those initial days marked by fear, apprehension, ignorance and ageneral alarm surrounding the disease.There is yet the need to treat HIV/AIDS patients with utmost careand compassion by dispelling all the myths in order to ensure itsrobust prevention and control.Dr. G.N Kazi was of the view that the federal and provincialprograms for HIV/AIDS control started way back in 1994 may stand aloneas a health intervention initiated in the country’s health sectoragainst a perceived threat in the future; normally the action comes inthe face of a growing challenge.”This single fact is responsible for containing the threat to thepresent low level of around 0.05 percent to 0.07 percent prevalence inthe country,” he said reiterating that people as well as authorities haveto be mindful of the potential hazard associated with the slightestdegree of neglect.”This could lead to a major epidemic in less than no time andreverse all the gains achieved over the past quarter century,” warnedthe public health specialist.Stakeholders at every level need to be cognizant that 37 millionpeople are currently living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)globally, 22 million of them are accessing anti-retroviral therapy. – APP
150,000 HIV/AIDS positive patients in Pakistan, main reasons drugs users and male sex workers
