MUZAFFARABAD (Madiha Abbasi): The Azad Kashmir Health Department has taken swift action after six human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases were reported in Muzaffarabad, with the number of affected individuals already at 60.
Talking to the media, Health Minister Nisar Ansar Abdali announced that immediate measures have been implemented under the guidance of the Prime Minister Anwarul Haq and the cabinet.
In this regard, the minister visited the Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) hospital in Muzaffarabad and held emergency meetings with the senior officers of the health department.
He added that regular free facilities for HIV diagnosis and treatment are available at AIMS Muzaffarabad, with patients’ identities kept confidential to protect their self-respect. “We have given special instructions that the identity of the patient should be kept confidential so that their self-respect is protected.”
A high-level committee has been formed to standardize and ensure safety in medical units, including dental, surgery, blood transfusion centers, and dialysis units, he told the media.
Moreover, the health minister stated that the department is monitoring potential sources of infection, such as barbers and ear/nose piercing vendors, and developing standard operating procedures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Nisar Ansar Abdali said the health department is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) to develop a coordinated strategy.
The health minister introduced the team on the occasion that is continuously working on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease. The team includes WHO representative Dr. Bushra Shams, Dr. Murtaza (CM AIMS), Dr. Sardar Idrees, Dr. Naveed Ahmed (Deputy Director RBC), Dr. Sajjad Haider Awan, Dr. Ahmed Junaid, and Dr. Sardar Maroof (In-charge Dialysis Center).
Abdali has appealed to the public to cooperate fully with the health department’s campaign, emphasizing that uniform protocols will be ensured for all individuals. By working together, the government and public can achieve success in controlling the spread of HIV.
