WITH HIV infection rates climbing in Pakistan, a new national survey has found that 133,529 people are believed to have contracted the virus. This $1m study — funded by the Global Fund and with UNAIDS support — not only warns of a resurging HIV/AIDS epidemic, but identifies new cases among injecting drug users, who comprise 33pc of all HIV cases in Pakistan, and commercial sex workers. Meanwhile, on Thursday this newspaper published a report on the rise in HIV cases and the need to scale up national response programmes before the virus spreads. Concurring with the findings of the national survey, our report investigates instances of institutional inadequacies and inequitable fund distribution in the treatment of HIV. The lack of political will, bureaucratic challenges and the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS not only prevent early diagnosis and treatment but also leave marginalised and poor sufferers — especially drug-users — with fewer healthcare options. Differing levels of treatment offered in the provinces has made it impossible to curb new cases. Halting treatment in KP, for instance, because of the lack of disbursement of funds, justifies the concerns of non-governmental partners working with the national HIV programme. They attribute this failure to poor administration, nonexistent health policies and lapsing funds.

Sexual health campaigns that target high-risk groups such as drug users, transgenders, returning migrant workers and sex workers is one way to address the stigma attached to sufferers of HIV and to mitigate the risk of transmission. Comprehensive control programmes must be integrated with other health strategies so that people have access to testing opportunities in healthcare settings and are provided lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. If accessible, these interventions will improve early diagnosis and fast-track treatment. Preventing further transmission and moving towards eradicating AIDs by 2030, as pledged by Pakistan as part of its SDG commitments, requires political will with a focus on education and treatment for all HIV sufferers.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2017