Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, life-threatening disease without a certified cure. It is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus that can be spread by contact with infected blood, during pregnancy from mother to child, through infected syringes and unsterilised equipment. Recently, United Nations’ AIDS revealed that Pakistan has at least 200,000 cases of the fatal disease of which 32% are women and 3% children. Several countries have achieved considerable progress in alleviating the disease to a great extent. Unfortunately, however, Pakistan has lagged and has one of the highest prevalence rates today.
Most registered patients claim that they were not aware of the disease until they underwent screening for blood donation or surgery. The key factors contributing to the high prevalence are not new or unusual. One reason is the stigma attached to the disease because of which many people never disclose their positive status. This is combined with poverty, illiteracy, lack of awareness, gender disparity, ignorance in terms of the modes of transmission of the disease, and recklessness in infection control practices at healthcare facilities.
Many people do not seek treatment because they are unaware of the screening procedure and medicines that can help combat the disease long-term. The marginalised communities are usually the most affected for want of access to adequate medical support and assistance. This not only threatens their lives but also increases the chances of spilling the disease to the wider population. Health practitioners have raised alarm and warned of the risks of the disease time and again. It is the government’s indifferent attitude that is rather worrisome. Our culture of silence and shame along with little awareness poses a grave threat. There is a need for all relevant authorities to work collaboratively to launch awareness campaigns and encourage people to get screenings to alleviate the disease before it spirals out of control.
Neelam Yasir
Karachi
