‘Engage private clinics to curb HIV spread’

WHO expert notes reuse of syringes continues unchecked

KARACHI:

Health experts say it is time to engage private clinics to stop the further spread of HIV.

"The [recent] outbreak has made the entire public and private health care sector reach boiling point," said Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. "No one had been concerned till this outbreak with children. Firstly, there was a baseline study for waste management and hospital management; that's where the World Health Organisation established the IPC [Infection Prevention and Control] practices in our health facilities," she added.

Speaking at an event, 'Building Infection Prevention and Control System for Safe Health Service Delivery' in Larkana on Monday, the minister said that the transmission of infections in hospitals was very high in the country.

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Sharing details of challenges and successes in Rato Dero, Dr Maha Ismail Taalat of WHO pointed out that new cases of HIV among children were being reported daily. She added that the majority of private health practitioners were still reusing syringes. "We need to focus on the private sector. We need to focus on oral medication."

"The reusing of syringes was also a cause behind this high rate of infection," conceded Dr Pechuho. "We have now moved to auto lock syringes in the province. I very much agree that dissemination of IPC knowledge is not readily available, so we need to concentrate on IPC practices as well as water sanitation and hygiene," said the minister.

Dr Pechuho added that this was a significant challenge as a lot of the diseases spread due to lack of clean drinking water. "There is also a need to implement an IPC communication strategy."

The health minister urged the use of oral medication rather than injections.

Meanwhile, WHO representative Dr Palitha Mahipala appreciated the efforts of the provincial government, especially in Rato Dero, Larkana district, where the HIV epidemic broke out in 2019. "It is not so easy to overcome such a situation. We have a long journey. We need more funding and more training."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2021.