PESHAWAR, Nov 14: At least 110 HIV/Aids cases have been reported in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Officials say non-government organizations involved in spreading awareness about the disease are not operating in the region.

An official said the second phase of a campaign for preventive measures against the disease had been launched under the NWFP Enhanced HIV/Aids Control Programme, during which medical staff would be trained and awareness campaigns arranged through community mobilization.

He said that in about 80 per cent of HIV cases reported in the NWFP, the patients belonged to the tribal belt.

He said 49 cases were detected in Kurram Agency, 27 in North Waziristan, 18 in South Waziristan, seven in Orakzai Agency, six in Khyber and three in Bajaur Agency.

In the settled areas, 37 cases had been reported in Kohat, 19 in Bannu, 17 in Hangu and 12 in Peshawar, he said.

He said low literacy rate and poor socio-economic conditions were the main reasons for the increase in Aids patients.

High-risk groups included truck drivers, barbers, quacks and expatriates from Fata in the Gulf states, he said.

He said doctors, lady health visitors, paramedics, health workers and dispensers were trained about the hazards and preventive and palliative methods regarding the disease during the first phase of the programme.

He said the second phase would cover Kurram Agency, Bajaur, Miramshah and frontier regions of Peshawar and Kohat and focus would be on awareness through special group sessions, workshops and gatherings for tribal elders, councillors, barbers, newsmen and religious leaders. He said provision of Aids kits to hospitals and distribution of literature containing information about the disease were part of the programme.

He said the Fata health directorate was working on a plan to control the disease in collaboration with the WHO, Unicef and the federal and NWFP governments.