Ratodero, Sindh : Hundreds of HIV/AIDS cases in Larkana are still undetected due to lack of proper diagnostic facilities in government hospitals, and rampant poverty deterring people to visit costly private facilities.
The HIV/AIDS patients whose cases have been confirmed are also facingserious problems due to costly treatment process and discriminatory attitude of society. Recently, a young couple was found HIV positive in Larkana and referred to HIV/AIDS center in Karachi for further confirmation. According to details, 25-years-old Ghulam Muhammad son of Maula Bux Junejo was married about one year ago and about six months back developed symptoms of sudden fever and shivering. His father took him tomany doctors of Larkana but none of them diagnosed him properly and he was given anti-biotic medicines. After months-long costly treatment at private clinics, the poor man was advised by a juniorconsultant to get his son tested at HIV/AIDS Surveillance Center of the Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) in Larkana for HIV/AIDS.When the lab tests were conducted the young son was detected as HIV positive. His 20 years old wife was also brought to the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Center and unfortunately she was detected as HIV positive. Maula Bux, a low paid employee of the same hospital, told media that many Larkana-based NGOs are looting local and foreign donors, but providing no treatment and even awareness to people. He said like his son and daughter of law hundreds of other undetected HIV/AIDS patients are living in different towns and villages of Larkana, but the governmental, as well as, NGO sector is not providingany assistance in their timely diagnosis and early treatment.