Blood ties: Doctors fear rise in HIV cases in Thatta

Five patients were reported in December.

KARACHI:

The district administration in Thatta is questioning if the population of the district is at risk of HIV/Aids given the lack of awareness and the number of new cases being reported.

The administration fears that there will be a higher number of cases in 2012, given the unscreened population.

There are currently six people who are HIV positive in the district. But doctors believe that the number can rise as the majority of people have no awareness of HIV/Aids.

The first case in Thatta was discovered in 2008, when a 35-year-old policeman was confirmed as being a HIV carrier. “We suggested to Brohi to start treatment and cooperate with the team but he was not interested. His family has not been screened yet and that is dangerous to others,” said Dr Aijaz Qazi, a senior medical officer and in-charge of the HIV/Aids Surveillance Cell.

Dr Qazi said that five other men from Sujawal, Thano Bula Khan, Gura Bari and Gharo were also found to be HIV positive but they “disappeared” after the tests and may risk passing the virus on.

He says that people are not aware of the nature of HIV/Aids. “They do not take prevention measures and avoid following suggestions. The indifferent attitude towards this will be harmful to their families as well and such patients can at least stop spreading the virus.”

One of the patients, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that his father died of HIV/Aids in 2004. “At the time doctors advised our family to be tested. My younger brother and sisters were cleared but my blood test was positive. My father died soon after the tests,” he said.

“My two sisters are married and my brother and I are single. My family insists that I get married but how I can destroy another life? The male members of our family know that I have this virus. My brother who is 22-years-old wants to be married but according to our tradition a younger one cannot marry when his elder brother is single. The situation is pathetic for me,” he said.

He was unaware how the virus had been transmitted to him, since he has not had any blood transfusions or sexual contact with anyone. “I remember I used my father’s shaving instruments but I am not sure I got the virus from practice.”

In a pained voice, he said, “I am not sure what stage I am at. I do not interact with people because social contacts will make my life more painful.”

Dr Qazi said it is possible that he was transmitted the virus by using his father’s shaving tools. “He can get married, but to someone who is HIV positive. This patient is depressed since his father died of the same disease.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2012.