Officials has said that of the 27,300 people screened so far in Larkana’s Ratodero taluka, 803 people, including 661 children, have been tested HIV positive, DAWN reported.
This outbreak is mainly caused by medical malpractices including reuse of [contaminated] syringes and drip kits.
“The HIV outbreak in Ratodero must not be politicised and be taken as a wake-up call for the entire country,” said Health Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr Zafar Mirza at a press conference which he addressed along with provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, WHO official Dr Oliver Morgan and UNAIDS’ Dr Eamonn Murphy.
“The underlying causes of all blood-borne infections including HIV as well as Hepatitis B and C are not restricted to Sindh but are similar across the country and require concerted efforts with focus on prevention,” he said, hinting at the recent alarming surge in the HIV/AIDS cases in five districts of Punjab.
Referring to the findings of the international team of experts about the causes of HIV outbreak in Ratodero, Dr Mirza said hypothesis had reconfirmed the initial observation attributing the outbreak to reused syringes and infected needles.
The situation demanded regulatory intervention, administrative measures to streamline therapeutic approach coupled with behavioural changes at the community level, he observed.
This outbreak is mainly caused by medical malpractices including reuse of [contaminated] syringes and drip kits.
“The HIV outbreak in Ratodero must not be politicised and be taken as a wake-up call for the entire country,” said Health Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr Zafar Mirza at a press conference which he addressed along with provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, WHO official Dr Oliver Morgan and UNAIDS’ Dr Eamonn Murphy.
“The underlying causes of all blood-borne infections including HIV as well as Hepatitis B and C are not restricted to Sindh but are similar across the country and require concerted efforts with focus on prevention,” he said, hinting at the recent alarming surge in the HIV/AIDS cases in five districts of Punjab.
Referring to the findings of the international team of experts about the causes of HIV outbreak in Ratodero, Dr Mirza said hypothesis had reconfirmed the initial observation attributing the outbreak to reused syringes and infected needles.
The situation demanded regulatory intervention, administrative measures to streamline therapeutic approach coupled with behavioural changes at the community level, he observed.