Govt hospitals to get anti-HIV medicines

Tablets are kept to reduce risk of HIV transmission through needle pricks

LAHORE: The Punjab AIDS Control Programme will provide post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medicines to all district and tehsil headquarters hospitals across Punjab.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare Additional Secretary (Administration) Dr Adnan Zafar Khan issued the directives in a review meeting of the AIDS Control Programme and Hepatitis Control Programme on Thursday.

“We are providing PEP medicines to all DHQ and THQ hospitals in Punjab to reduce the risk of HIV transmission through accidental pricks,” he said. “The medicines need to be made available at all key health centres.”

Pep medicines are deemed essential for all healthcare establishments, especially labs and diagnostic centres where there is risk of accidental pricks. The pack of tablets is kept in emergencies to reduce the risk of HIV transmission through needle pricks.

Two tablets are to be taken immediately after the accidental prick. The treatment continues and the staff is advised to contact the Punjab AIDS Control Programme for further guidance until the course is completed.

The meeting participants were told that a drive to register hair dressers, saloons and beauty parlours would start in the first week of April.

The first phase of the pilot project will begin with registration in Lahore. Changes in the plan may be made according to lessons learnt before the drive is expanded across the province, Dr Adnan said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2017.