HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection has now reached epidemic proportions in Pakistan. HIV cases have increased by more than 200% in the last 15 years, meaning that cases have tripled in the country. According to reports, from 16,000 cases in 2010, this number had risen to 48,000 by 2024.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Pakistan is facing the fastest-growing HIV pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
World AIDS Day
According to a report by Dawn, this information was shared during an awareness campaign organized by WHO and UNAIDS on the occasion of World AIDS Day, December 1. One of the most worrying developments in Pakistan has been the spread of the disease from high-risk groups to children, spouses, and the general population.
What are the Main Causes Behind rampant spread of HIV
- Unsafe blood transfusion.
- Repeated use of used and contaminated needles and injections.
- Severe Deficiencies in Infection Control.
- Lack of HIV testing in Prenatal care
- Unprotected SEX
- limited access to treatment and testing facilities
Children Most Vulnerable
According to the report, approximately 350,000 people in Pakistan are infected with HIV, but nearly 80% of them are completely unaware of their status. The impact on the child population is frightening. The number of cases among children has increased from 530 in 2010 to 1,800 by 2023.
The number of patients receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) has increased eightfold in the past decade. The number of ART centres increased from 6,500 in 2013 to 55,500 in 2024.
As per the report, only 21% of those infected were aware of their disease in 2024. Shockingly, only 16% of these individuals were receiving treatment, and only 7% had suppressed their viral load. The report states that more than 1,110 people died from AIDS in 2024. According to the Dawn report, in many areas, more than 80% of the cases were among children.
One of the most grim facts from the report is that only 38% of HIV-positive children aged 0–14 are receiving treatment for the disease.
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