PHOTO: REUTERS
QUETTA: Health Department Deputy Director Dr Kamalan Gichki on Saturday said the number of HIV/AIDS patients in Balochistan has crossed the 6,000 mark, a situation that is a source of serious concern for people of the province.
“Due to increasing number of AIDS patients in Balochistan, the health department started an awareness programme across the province from November 20,” he said while addressing a press conference at Quetta Press Club. He was accompanied by provincial AIDS Control Programme Manager Dr Afzal Zarkoon.
As part of its awareness campaign, the provincial government organised a festival on Sunday on the occasion of World AIDS Day that is celebrated on Dec 1 every year.
Gichki said: “As many as 1,339 AIDS patients were registered this year – out of which 1,025 were reported from Quetta and 314 from Turbat.”
According to AIDS Control Programme provincial chief, the prevalence of the life-threatening disease also spiked among transgender persons this year as compared to the last two years.
Moreover, the number of pregnant women living with HIV also increased to 50 against 12 reported last year and 10 in 2017, he added.
“We have established screening centres in 30 districts of Balochistan, in addition to treatment centres in Turbat and Quetta,” said Dr Zarkoon. He said soon new centres will be established in Zhob, Loralai, Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, and Lasbela.
The provincial chief revealed that as many as 35 prisoners in province’s nine jails tested HIV positive. He stressed that in order to save Balochistan from AIDS all parties, including religious scholars, media and teachers will have to work together.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2019.
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