HIV Cases In Country Alarming, NA Told

While the delta vari­ant of COVID-19 cases are still alarming, the National Assembly on Wednesday was in­formed about another startling information about HIV positive cases in the country.

“The National AIDS Control Program has es­tablished 50 HIV, Treat­ment Centers in which 46,912 HIV patients are registered,” Minister for National Health Ser­vices, Regulations and Coordination in a writ­ten reply shared with the House, in a written reply, during Question-Hour session.

“Out of these patients 26,093 on treatment who are taking HIV med­icine. 7,264 people Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) are also on Treatment,” according to the shared breakup.

A total number of 7,538 deaths of human immunodeficiency virus pa­tients are recorded. Each HIV center consists of physician, Nurse/Para­medic, Counselor, Case Manager and Data Entry Operator. India registers 41,195 new COVID-19 cases

It was informed that the National AIDS Con­trol Program has also es­tablished 17 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) dealing with key population. 

“94,978 Men having Sex with Men (MSMs) are registered with these organizations whereas 36,553 Transgenders (TGs) and 22,754 Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are registered,”the minis­try informed in writ­ten reply.

It further said that the National AIDS Control Program has es­tablished 16 human immunodeficiency virus treat­ment centers in Sindh province. It says NACP provides number of HIV interventions at Primary Health Care for Univer­sal Health Coverage in Pakistan.

The ministry claimed in reply that Pakistan provided uninterrupted service delivery during COVID-19 pandemic. |Our human immunodeficiency virus control efforts were modified to ensure the uninterrupted sup­ply of services such as multi month dispensing to facilitate the People Living with, HIV in get­ting sufficient stocks of antiretrovirals at the geographically nearest centre etc”.

Originally published at The nation