Increasing HIV cases a problem for Balochistan
Health DG stresses need for public awareness
A laboratory technician examines blood samples for HIV/AIDS ,PHOTO:REUTERS
QUETTA:
Balochistan Health Department Director General Dr Shakir Baloch on Thursday said the numbers of AIDS patients in the province had increased from 3,500 to 5,000 but only 1,334 were registered with the AIDS Control Programme.
He was addressing a press conference at Quetta Press Club along with Dr Dawood Khan Achakzai, Dr Afzal Zarkon and other doctors. The DG said the World AIDS Day would be observed in the province in collaboration with the provincial AIDS Control Programme, UNICEF and other organisations.
Lack of awareness: 25 new HIV cases detected
He said the day would be marked with the theme ‘get tested, know your status’, to create awareness regarding HIV-AIDS for decreasing the number of patients in the province. Dr Baloch said 911 patients of HIV-AIDS were being treated in Quetta and 301 in Turbat under the programme.
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He said HIV-AIDS cases had also been reported in Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Sherani, Gwadar, Loralai, Lasbela, Nushki, Qilla Abdullah and Pishin. “A total of 4,404 prisoners had been tested in various jails in Gadani, Quetta, Turbat and other areas of the province and 71 of them are suffering from HIV-AIDS,” he said.
He said it was the responsibility of all segments of society, including eligious scholars and other stakeholders, to play their vital role to create awareness against HIV-AIDS. He said AIDS centres had been established in the Bolan Medical Complex Hospital and in Turbat.
Balochistan Health Department Director General Dr Shakir Baloch on Thursday said the numbers of AIDS patients in the province had increased from 3,500 to 5,000 but only 1,334 were registered with the AIDS Control Programme.
He was addressing a press conference at Quetta Press Club along with Dr Dawood Khan Achakzai, Dr Afzal Zarkon and other doctors. The DG said the World AIDS Day would be observed in the province in collaboration with the provincial AIDS Control Programme, UNICEF and other organisations.
Lack of awareness: 25 new HIV cases detected
He said the day would be marked with the theme ‘get tested, know your status’, to create awareness regarding HIV-AIDS for decreasing the number of patients in the province. Dr Baloch said 911 patients of HIV-AIDS were being treated in Quetta and 301 in Turbat under the programme.
Health threat: LRH out of dog bite vaccine
He said HIV-AIDS cases had also been reported in Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Sherani, Gwadar, Loralai, Lasbela, Nushki, Qilla Abdullah and Pishin. “A total of 4,404 prisoners had been tested in various jails in Gadani, Quetta, Turbat and other areas of the province and 71 of them are suffering from HIV-AIDS,” he said.
He said it was the responsibility of all segments of society, including eligious scholars and other stakeholders, to play their vital role to create awareness against HIV-AIDS. He said AIDS centres had been established in the Bolan Medical Complex Hospital and in Turbat.