Treating AIDS patients: MoU signed for special clinic at PIMS university

Only 9,000 AIDS patients out of 90,000 registered for treatment across the country.


News Desk July 23, 2014



The Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University on Tuesday signed an MoU with the National Aids Control Programme through which over 1,700 aids patients would benefit from free treatment at the university hospital.


“This MoU is an initiative of the hospital to help patients by providing them with free treatment, counseling and free medication,” said the varsity’s vice-chancellor (VC) Dr Javed Akram, according to a press release.

The university operates out of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

Quoting data of the National Aids Control Programme (NACP), Akram said there are an estimated 90,000 aids patients across the country and only 9,000 are registered for getting treatment.

“NACP is doing a good job and this MoU will not just help patients but also the faculty and students of the university to indulge in research related to the disease,” he said.

“We will enhance the treatment base of Aids patients and try to ensure registration of all those who will be turning up at the Aids clinic of the hospital,” said the VC.

Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai, national manager of the Aids programme, said the signing of the MoU will give more support to patients suffering from Aids.

He said NACP is maintaining a database of Aids patients who are registered at different treatment points across the country.

Dr Achakzai said the number of patients suffering from Aids in the twin cities is quite high but owing to social taboos, patients do not go to hospitals for treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2014. 

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