IT is unfortunate that in our country, the actions and attitudes of healthcare providers, people who are responsible for protecting us from ill health, become one of the reasons for the prevalence of disease. Certainly, they appear to be a major factor in driving up the number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country. The 2019 HIV/AIDS outbreak in Larkana is proof. While the cases of HIV/AIDS have decreased globally, in Pakistan they reportedly increased by 84pc between 2010 and 2020. At present, there are around 200,000 HIV/AIDS cases in the country, with thousands being reported every year. Against this backdrop, the revelation by health experts at a recent seminar in Karachi was insightful. According to them, 65pc of HIV/AIDS patients did not return for treatment due to the problematic behaviour of their healthcare providers.

Another key factor in the spread of the disease is the widespread use of contaminated medical equipment by healthcare providers. This condemnable practice is responsible not only for a number of HIV/AIDS cases but also for other blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B and C. Pakistan already has one of the highest case volumes of hepatitis C while hepatitis B infections are also rising at an alarming rate. It is a well-documented fact that more than 70pc of hepatitis B and C infections in Pakistan are transmitted at healthcare set-ups. Moreover, the lack of monitoring at health outlets and of medics also contributes to the problem. Meanwhile, another important aspect of the HIV/AIDS challenge is the stigma attached to the disease that prevents the reporting of symptoms at clinics and hospitals. People avoid doing so because contracting HIV is considered a shame in society, inviting derision from relatives and even doctors. The Sindh government recently launched a drug for high-risk populations and couples. However, unless the government actively works towards reducing the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and penalises doctors who put their patients’ health at risk, the success in curbing the spread of the disease would be limited.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022