KARACHI, July 21: The Sindh AIDS Control Programme termed the detection of 17 cases of HIV positive in inmates of Larkana and Sukkur jails due to Intra-Venous drug use a new alarming turn.

Dr Syed Qamar Abbas, who is in charge information, education and communication of AIDS Control Programme, expressed concern over the detection of 17 HIV positive cases in the two districts.

As many as 2,000 AIDS cases had been reported in the country, he said. However, he expressed fear that there might be many more unreported cases in Pakistan and among the reported cases 80 per cent were detected in overseas Pakistanis.

It can be mentioned here that there are more than three million Pakistanis working abroad, whose families live in Pakistan.

He said that the new detection among the IV drug users was threatening, as they usually sell their blood at different blood centres to earn their livelihood and drug needs.

Dr Qamar expressed concern over the non-availability of proper blood screening system in the country and said that such blood transfusion could spread HIV in the country.—PPI