Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said that the provincial government allocated Rs 600 million to contain and control the spread of HIV and also established Rs billion endowment fund for the rehabilitation of HIV-affected people.
The chief minister was speaking during a meeting of American-based Gilead Sciences delegation led by Mr Clifford Samuel Vice President of the organisation. Other members of the delegation included South Asia Senior Director Hema Srinivasan, Asia Pacific Government Affairs Director Caludio Lilienfeld Senior and Ferozsons Lab CEO Osman Khalid Waheed.
Murad Ali Shah said that when he heard presence of some HIV affected people in Naudero of Larkana district he dispatched special teams to conduct screening. “We preferred to screen the population of the area instead of putting the matter under the carpet,” he added.
He said that 32,151 people were screened, of them 936 including 770 children and 166 adults were detected HIV positive. Out of 936 patients, 47 percent were male, 53 percent female, he added.
Disclosing the age bracket of the HIV patients, the Chief Minister said that out of 936 HIV positive cases 56 percent patients were of five years age, 26 percent between 5 to 14 years, 16 percent 15 to 45 percent and two percent of 45 years and above.
Talking about his government response, Murad Ali Shah said that a new Pediatrics Treatment Center has been established at Children Hospital Larkana and another similar center was being set up at THQ Ratodero. Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) has launched operation against illegal blood banks, and quack clinics have been sealed. He added that vertical programmes such as Lady Health Workers, EPI, nutrition, MNCH, Hepatitis have been actively engaged at Ratodero and Larkana. “We have introduced auto-lock syringes at Larkana,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that international NGOs and UN agencies like UNICEF, WHO, UNAID, GFATM, USAID-JSI have been taken on board for technical support. He added that Aga Khan University hospital, SIUT and other institutions have been made involved in providing support in treatment, screening, capacity building of concerned medical officers and technical staff.
It was also pointed out that WHO Mission visited Larkana, Ratodero for one week and focused on testing and treatment and disseminated hands on training to physicians at HIV Treatment Centers.
Murad Shah thanked WHO for arranging three missions in response to HIV outbreak and providing necessary medicines for 600 HIV positive children for three months. He also thanked UNICEF, NACP, Global Fund, UNAIDS, UNFPA, USAID, Nai Zindagi Trust, AKUH SIUT, DUHS and APLHIV for giving full support to his government for containing HIV spread and treatment of the affected people.
Gilead Sciences Vice President Mr Clifford Samuel offered Sindh chief minister of his organization’s support. Murad Shah directed Secretary Health Saeed Awan to hold a follow-up meeting with the Gilead Science delegation and discuss where their support was required. “I don’t want duplication in services but it must be specified where needed,” he said.
Separately, Murad invited the investors of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to avail wide range investment opportunities across province.
He was talking to ambassador of UEA to Pakistan Hammad Obaid Al Zaabi who called on him at Chief Minister House in Karachi.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister and UEA Envoy discussed bilateral relations, investment opportunities in province and other matters.
Speaking on the occasion, Murad Ali Shah said that UAE’s investors can take advantage of opportunities to invest in Wind Energy and Desalination Plant in the province.
Envoy Hammad Obaid informed the Chief Minister that UAE Visa facilitation center is being established in Karachi.
Meanwhile, Murad condoled with Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Khan Durrani and his younger brother District Chairman Agha Maseehuddin Khan Durrani over the sad demise of their auntie at Kot Durrani in Garhi Yaseen.
