KARACHI, Nov 30: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi Chapter on the occasion of World Aids Day, being celebrated globally on Thursday, expressed its deep concern over the increasing number of HIV/Aids cases in the country.

This day has been observed world over since 1988 and the idea is to raise awareness about this lethal disease. The slogan of World Aids Campaign is Stop Aids, Keep the Promise, and accountability is the theme for this year. According to UN estimates during 2006, 43 million people got infected with this virus and the number of people living with HIV is 39.5 million including 2-3 million children. Half of all infected people get the disease before the age of 25 and die before 35 years of age.

The cases of HIV/Aids have been increasing geometrically in Pakistan. Registered cases of HIV in Pakistan are 3, 224 and 366 of Aids (total number of cases 3,591) had been reported to the National Aids Control Programme.

Only in Sindh, 1,587 cases of HIV and 108 cases of Aids have been registered. The estimated figure in Pakistan is more than 100,000 including 40-50,000 in Sindh only, said a press statement issued by the PMA Karachi.

It said that low literacy rate, lack of awareness, high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, high number of commercial sex workers both male and female, limited safety in blood transfusion, increasing number of injecting drug users (IDU), reuse of syringes (needles), increase number of migrant workers mostly in gulf countries were the factors that make Pakistan a high risk country.

The PMA, Karachi believes that a strong public awareness campaign on a regular basis with other positive measures will be effective. The association demanded of the government that the kits and equipment required for the diagnosis of Aids and hepatitis be exempted from customs and sales duties.

The PMA also demanded provision of better healthcare facilities in the interior of Sindh, especially Larkana, where AIDS cases were on the rise.