HIV hub

Larkana has for some time had a reputation in the international humanitarian community and among NGOs as a place where HIV infection is growing rapidly. The situation in this city alone dashes hopes, once perpetuated widely by the government and media that Pakistan may escape the global AIDS epidemic or that this was in some way linked to “immorality” found only in the West.

The situation that has come to light recently in Larkana underscores the gravity of the situation. A hundred and thirteen new patients have tested positive for HIV in the first two months of 2013 alone. Most are young boys, women and children. This raises to 518 the number of people being treated at Chandka Medical College Hospital in Larkana. The total number of persons suffering from the sickness is unclear as even many of those who test positive never return for treatment. It is assumed that social stigma and possibly, limited finances holds them back.

The reasons for Larkana emerging as an HIV hub have been put down to the fact that it is a major transport route for trucks, a factor which breeds the existence of a large number of brothels. In addition to this, the number of injecting drug users in the city is also high according to research. Patients complain that they are receiving little help, if any, from government-run medical centres, while the NGOs alone are unable to battle the rapid growth of the problem.

The crisis is one which simply should not be ignored any longer. Awareness among the public is a key factor in controlling AIDS. The continued hesitancy to launch campaigns for this purpose remains a problem as does the lack of official attention to this issue. We need to act fast to prevent this and to ensure that all departments of government have specialised AIDS control programmes set up with donor support, and which are acting effectively and with enough impact to alter a grim situation causing immense sufferings to families.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2013.