Islamabad, April 6 Recent reports indicate that Pakistan has 84,421 registered HIV/AIDS patients, with the Punjab province recording the highest number of cases, followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory. Healthcare authorities in Pakistan must create a coherent and sustained plan to combat HIV, a report cautions.
Transmission can occur through unsafe practices such as barber services, dental procedures, and related factors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of HIV patients in Pakistan are unaware of their condition.
HIV/AIDS cases have increased by 200 per cent in Pakistan over the past 15 years – from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000 in 2024. The WHO estimates that around 350,000 people in Pakistan have HIV, but nearly eight in ten affected individuals remain unaware of their status, according to an editorial in Pakistan's leading daily, "The News International." Children are also contracting HIV/AIDS, with cases among those aged 0-14 years increasing from 530 in 2010 to 1,800 in 2023.
"HIV has long been a taboo in this part of the world. Misinformation surrounding the disease has created a situation where patients often blame themselves if they contract the virus. In the past, such individuals were ostracized and forced to live in isolation. While there has been some improvement, the situation is still far from adequate. Lack of awareness of the disease continues to put others at risk," the editorial mentions.
"There have been cases where individuals contracted HIV after using equipment previously used on infected patients. Criminal negligence – such as the reuse of medical equipment – further exacerbates the crisis. The harrowing example of a hospital in rural Sindh, where hundreds of children were infected due to the reuse of single-use syringes and other tools, is still a terrifying reminder of the extent of systemic failure," it adds.
Healthcare authorities must create a coherent and sustained plan to combat HIV. Reducing stigma and encouraging people to undergo testing and treatment should be the first step. Awareness campaigns should be launched in Pakistan to share details regarding the virus with the people.
According to the editorial, HIV education should be included in the school curriculum, and religious and community leaders should be asked to share accurate information. The government should increase free or low-cost testing centers for people, introduce rapid test kits, and encourage routine testing in hospitals.