Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases continue to increase in the Punjab province despite allocation of billions of rupees to curb the disease or raise awareness by the authorities, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
The drastic rise of the disease in the province can be gauged from the data released by the Punjab AIDS Control Programme (PACP) that around 7,000 cases of AIDS were registered in Punjab during the whole year 2023. But, more than 1000 registered cases have come up since the beginning of the current year.
Presently, as per PACP, there are about 42,000 AIDS patients across the province, out of which around 20,000 are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Punjab.
However, independent sources are of the view that the actual number of patients is well above the 100,000 mark; and that the provincial health department does not want to acknowledge this reality because of its lack of efforts to combat the spread of the disease.
Unfortunately, the authorities have neither conducted screening tests to locate new patients nor have they campaigned to raise awareness about the disease.
Therefore, it is not hard to believe that the number of patients has increased drastically.
According to PACP spokesperson, the highest number of AIDS cases in Punjab were reported from Jalalpur Jattan in Gujarat.
The second highest number of cases were reported from Kot Umrana in Sargodha.
In Hanjab, the third highest number of cases were reported from DG Khan city.
Spokesperson continued that cases were reported at the screening centers of the PACP a large scale across Punjab.
“Punjab AIDS Program has increased screening to detect and save precious lives of the citizens.”
Reporter: Azmat Awan