As many as 18 new HIV positive cases were detected at Ratodero Taluka Headquarter Hospital (THQ) on Monday, bringing the total number of detected cases to 700.
According to details, 383 people were screened, of which 18 were detected HIV positive and one was also found suffering from HIV Virus at an outreach site of Banguldero, where 34 people were tested. According to Sindh AIDS Control Programme (SACP) figures, 23,671 people have been tested so far, of which 700 have been found infected with HIV. Of the total, 124 are adults and 576 children. At other outreach sites apart from Rural Health Center (RHC), Banguldero, screening was also done at RHC Naundero, where 56 people were tested, while 20 were tested at Lashari village and four at Pir Bux Bhutto, but the SACP figures claimed that all 114 turned out to be negative.
Meanwhile, Naundero RHC Medical Superintendent Dr Gul Muhammad Hakro disclosed that two HIV positive cases were detected at the facility, and both were residents of a village located in between Ratodero and Naundero. He said that during the last 11 days, screening was constantly conducted at the RHC, during which 1,450 people were tested, of which two cases had so far been found positive on 11th day. He said the two were a 20-year-old woman and her three-year son. He said that after testing positive, blood samples of both the patients were sent to the HIV/AIDS Treatment & Care Center, Larkana, for reconfirmation, where both the cases were confirmed. He said both the patients had been sent to special ART Center established in Children Hospital, Larkana, for treatment.
Meanwhile, 320 people were also tested negative at a screening camp organised at Madeji under the supervision of Prof Dr Rafia Baloch and Dr Mukhtiar Mirani on a self-help basis. Out of these, 150 were women and 170 men.
