KARACHI, Sept 7: The Sindh Aids Control Programme (SACP) is operating without any equipment for diagnosis and treatment, while the number of suspected cases of HIV/Aids is on the rise in the province.

According to sources in the programme, this lack of resources is affecting the programme as the provincial managers on HIV/Aids are finding it difficult to function properly.

The results from CIDA-HASP survey of high-risk groups in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur indicated a very dangerous trend which had changed the HIV classification of the country from a “high-risk and low-prevalence” country to a “concentrated epidemic” country, said a source.

According to a report, one

in four injecting drug users,

one in 25 male sex workers

and one in 100 female sex workers has been detected HIV

positive in the province.

The limited management and technical capacity at all levels and delay in procurement of services might translate further into an increase in the number of HIV infections, the source said.

“At present CD-4 count of HIV patients in Sindh is done at SIUT under an MoU signed between the National Aids Control Programme and SIUT”, the source added.

The SACP has one centre of excellence for some assignments, including provision of anti-retro viral (ARV) drugs for the treatment of HIV/Aids positive patients at Karachi.

However, this centre did not have any CD-4 Count and viral load count facilities, said the source, adding that an HIV/Aids centre had been established at Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, in June 2006 but not yet developed in accordance with the requirements and that was why new cases of HIV or Aids had been referred to Karachi for confirmation and other relevant measures.

Dr Arshad Mehmood Khan, Provincial Programme Manager of SACP, told Dawn recently, that during a meeting of CIDA mission — running a five-year HIV/AIDS surveillance programme in the province--on Sept 4 at Karachi, the constraints had been discussed and the mission had been urged for the provision of CD-4 count and viral load assessment facilities to SACP on priority basis.

“We have also requested the mission that it should also facilitate the SACP to upgrade its referral laboratories and surveillance centres across the province and training of technical staff and ensure capacity enhancement of the Aids control programme in the province”, Dr Khan added.