KARACHI:
In Pakistan, HIV/AIDs cases have risen by more than 70% within the last seven years. The country is struggling to limit the spread of the disease and cure it due to the stigmatisation of the disease, limited outreach, and a lack of resources to invest in screening and treatments.
HIV is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency virus that attacks the human body’s helper T lymphocytes (white blood cells). If left untreated it badly affects the body’s immune system and leads to AIDS. A malfunctioning of the immune system makes the body of the infected person to be prone to many infectious diseases. People suffer from various diseases like cancer, diarrhoea, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, and weakness. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease, but it also spreads through contact with contaminated blood, used injections or syringes. It can also spread through the used razors of the infected person in barbershops.
Given the surge in infection rates, the fatal disease can become a serious public health challenge for the government. Therefore, the healthcare department should work on destigmatising the disease and encourage people to get screened to identify the condition early on and take prevention measures. Hospital staff should be trained to avoid medical errors that risk spreading the disease. People should maintain good hygiene and avoid re-using razors or syringes. ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) is one way to treat the condition, but it does not entirely eliminate the virus. Community-based oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medicine to prevent HIV transmission should be introduced.
Ainee Munir
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2023.
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