Experts raise alarm over prevalence of HIV in voluntary blood donors in Sindh –I
*272 new HIV cases reported monthly since Jan 2023, primarily among high-risk groups; Virus may exceed 0.1% threshold in general population.* By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: With an average of 272 new HIV cases reported every month since January 2023 across Sindh, primarily among high-risk populations, infectious disease experts have raised alarm as additional data from registered blood banks—involving voluntary and exchange donors only—suggests that the virus may have exceeded the largely satiating threshold of 0.1% among the general population in the province. Experts have emphasised the need for overhauling provincial prevention and control mechanisms as well as the activation of the long-notified but inactive provincial guiding body on HIV –Sindh AIDS Commission. A study of HIV data acquired from the provincial health department revealed that during 2023 and 2024 (till August), Sindh had a total of 5,444 new people living with HIV. Men accounted for 61% (3,342) of the cases, includi...