It's important destigmatise HIV by spreading awareness, says PPP chairman. PHOTO: TWITTER/ @BBhuttoZardari
Following a visit to the HIV screening camps in Larkana’s Ratodero division, Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asserted on Sunday that the disease was not a death sentence.
“HIV is not a death sentence,” said Bilawal in a tweet adding that, “the conflation of HIV & AIDS is fueling stigmatisation of the most vulnerable people in Pakistan. ”
“This cannot and should not be tolerated, I stand by my fellow Pakistanis who have contracted HIV, be they in Ratodero, Swabi, Sargodha or Turbat.”
The PPP chairman added that the Sindh government was carrying out aggressive screenings. He said that 22, 900 people had been tested and stressed on the importance to destigmatise HIV by creating awareness about the disease.
During his trip to Ratodero, Bilawal assessed medical faculties being provided to the affectees.
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PPP’s home constituency is in the grip of a healthcare crisis. At least 519 people have been tested positive for HIV in Larkana so far.
But this is not the first time or even the first aids crisis. In the last 18 years, it has experienced ‘unusual’ outbreaks of HIV/Aids at least three times.
First, in 2003, the virus was detected at a prison among more than 100 injecting drug users. Then, three years back, 30 patients receiving dialysis at Chandka Medical Hospital, Larkana.
On Saturday, Bilawal announced setting up an endowment fund to ensure free and lifelong treatment of people living with HIV/Aids in Sindh.
Bilwal you really need to get some brains. In interior Sindhi, thanks to your father, it is a death sentence.Recommend
Always a little too bit and always too late. The root cause needs to be addressed. Which is corruption and lethargy within the health departments in Sindh. And that rot is in his family.Recommend
If it is not a death sentence then why don’t you have it! People don’t have decent food in an agricultural Country – Mal Nutrition that is causing build and height of these people. On the contrary, the elite are all healthy tall skinny. Will you pay there lifetime medical bills for the treatment of such a shameful disease. Think before you talk!Recommend