A media report about the transfusion of unsafe blood in the Federal Capital has raised concerns about the public health. The issue gripped the attention of lawmakers of the National Assembly after they learned about two siblings, who contracted HIV virus due to the transfusion of contaminated blood in Islamabad. Besides other factors, patients suffering from blood-transfusion related ailments, also become a victim of this deadly disease. Reportedly, in December 2014, health expert Prof Dr Javaria Mannan had announced that during her study she had found at least 10 children, who were thalassaemia patients, infected with HIV. The recent case in the capital have raised eyebrows over flaws in the blood transfusion programme of the country. It presents a disturbing picture of HIV infections in Pakistan. It is troubling to note that the prevalence of HIV and the deaths due to the infectious disease have been growing alarmingly in Pakistan as compared to other countries of the world over the past decade. HIV/AIDS remains a global epidemic for which there is no cure. In Pakistan, the National AIDS Programme’s latest figures show that over 4,000 HIV cases have so far been reported since 1986, but UN and government estimates put the number of HIV/AIDS cases around 97,000 ranging from the lowest estimate 46,000 to the highest estimate-210,000. More realistic estimates that are based on actual surveillance figures, however, suggest that this number may be closer to 40,000 — 45,000. Officials say that the majority of cases go unreported due to social taboos about sex and victims’ fears of discrimination. The situation calls for immediate efforts at the national level to contain this disease. We also have a duty to educate youth who may be unaware of the devastation wrought by HIV/AIDS. In addition, the Government ought to look carefully at how much it allocates to the health sector, particularly as it relates to HIV/AIDS research.
