ISLAMABAD: Interim Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan on Wednesday directed the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) to take steps to prevent an outbreak of HIV as it occurred in Larkana and Ratodero in 2019.

He was speaking to participants of a meeting held to discuss ways to prevent the 2019-like outbreak of AIDS.

In May 2019, a sudden outbreak of HIV took place in Larkana (Ratodero). As the matter was of great concern, the government requested the World Health Organisation (WHO) to investigate it.

A WHO-led team then reached Pakistan, whose key tasks included ascertaining the source of the outbreak and controlling it, providing technical expertise particularly in areas of HIV testing, paediatric HIV treatment and family counselling and ensuring adequate supplies of rapid diagnostic tests and anti-retroviral medicines for both adults and children.

Says govt to ensure equitable access to life-saving HIV prevention and treatment services

It was later revealed that the repeated use of injections was the main reason of the outbreak.

The meeting, presided over by Dr Jan, was attended by Director General Health Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai along with representatives from the Common Management Unit, UNAIDS, Unicef, UNDP, UNFPA and WHO.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said HIV outbreaks typically occurred due to factors like unsafe injection practices, unprotected sexual activity or sharing of contaminated needles. Therefore, it was necessary to address these issues through education, prevention and healthcare interventions.

He said the government was committed towards eliminating AIDS.

“Our work today will ensure that people of all ages, genders and population groups had equitable access to life-saving HIV prevention and treatment services based on the most up-to-date science,” he added.

Dr Jan said the World AIDS Day would be a time to show support and solidarity for individuals living with HIV.

“This can include providing information on available resources, support groups and advocating for the rights and well-being of people with HIV,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, the health ministry spokesperson, Sajid Shah, said since 1988, every year the World AIDS Day was observed December 1 to raise HIV awareness and express solidarity with those infected by the virus or associated complications.

“According to estimates, in Pakistan around 200,000 people are living with HIV compared to less than 110,000 in 2016,” he said.

“HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 35 million lives so far. In 2016, one million people died from HIV-related causes globally. There were approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2016 with 1.8 million people becoming newly-infected in 2016 globally. As many as 54pc adults and 43pc children having HIV are currently receiving lifelong anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Global ART coverage for pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV stands at 76pc,” Mr Shah said.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2023