SARGODHA: An outbreak of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in a small village in Kot Momin Area of Sargodha has alarmed residents as well as the authorities.
According to reports, an alarmingly high number of HIV/AIDS cases have come to surface in village Kot Imrana, just a few kilometres from Kot Momin Interchange of Islamabad-Lahore Motorway in Sargodha district.
According to details, 35 HIV/AIDS cases have been confirmed out of 2,717 tests carried out by the Punjab AIDS Control Programme after the elders of the area brought the matter to the knowledge of the Punjab government.
35 HIV/AIDS cases confirmed out of 2717 tests
Sargodha Local health department officials fear that the number of HIV/AIDS patients could increase in the coming days. They however said they were unable to identify the reason forthe AIDS cases. Punjab Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir also expressing serious concern over the development said the number of cases could further increase.
He said that a Special Unit of Punjab Aids Control programme has been established in Kot Momin where the registered patients would be treated free of cost.
UN estimates that there are more than 100,000 HIV/AIDS patients in Pakistan.
The prevalence of the virus in the area has been attributed to local Chaudhry Akram who alerted Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a letter. The CM then directed authorities to establish a health camp in the area.
In his letter, Chaudhry Akram said many had been seeking medical attention for hepatitis and tuberculosis over the past year. He said their health woes had not been remedied despite regular medication. Consequently, 200 people had lost their lives, according to Akram. The deaths forced authorities into action and many patients were admitted to the Sargodha District Hospital. Sikander Hayat of the hospital’s Special Medicine Clinic said the health department also conducted a district-wide survey after discovering the myriad of HIV/AIDS cases. The findings of the survey revealed that quack Allah Ditta had been using a single syringe to ‘treat patients’ over years. Allah Ditta himself died of HIV/AIDS a few years ago, according to the findings.
Published in Daily Times, March 2nd 2018.
