More HIV cases identified in Sindh

An additional seven HIV positive cases have been identified in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh, bringing the total to 24, following the testing of 5,714 intravenous drug users (IDUs) in the province. The cases were identified in Larkana, some 300 km from Karachi, following the start of HIV testing in June of IDU prisoners. "We have noticed a different pattern developing with Larkana having the highest amount of cases. In Larkana, out of those tested, 22 were drug users and two were non-drug users," head of the AIDS control programme in Sindh, Dr Sharaf Ali Shah, told IRIN from the southern port city of Karachi on Tuesday. This is the first time that HIV has been detected amongst drug users in the country. "Drugs is an old problem in Pakistan, it now has a new dimension with HIV," he said, adding that 80 percent of drug users have hepatitis C. According to Shah, people come from all over the country to buy drugs in Larkana. "The authorities are not doing enough to stop the drug dealers, they are just focusing on the drug users," he maintained. There are an estimated 80,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Pakistan's population of 145 million. However, official figures are much lower. Towards the end of last year, 1,942 cases of HIV and 231 of full-blown AIDS were reported to the National Aids Control Programme (NACP). Under the supervision of the NACP, once someone has tested positive, they are provided with counselling, then doctors attempt to ascertain when a person has been infected by studying symptoms. Following this, the mode of transmission is identified to check whether other people could have also been infected. "We now test people for HIV according to the national guidelines and the person is offered pre-test counselling following their consent and then post-test counselling," Shah explained. However, he acknowledged the need for better facilities in the country to deal with HIV/AIDS. Measures taken following the detection of HIV positive cases in Sindh include recommendations in how to deal with such situations. UNAIDS in Pakistan held a workshop at the end of August outlining specific guidelines. "The Larkana situation was unprecedented and in this situation there are a number of issues to deal with and in the absence of guidelines it becomes very difficult for them to know how to respond." The recommendations focus on improving three areas, rapid assessment, confidentiality and an increase in the number of rehabilitation centres. In total, 1,246 people have been tested for HIV in Karachi, 2,770 in the southern city of Hyderabad, 879 in Sukkur and 757 in Larkana. The HIV positive patients have been transferred to a rehabilitation centre in Lahore by the Pakistani NGO, Nai Zindagi.