LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken swift action in response to the alarming outbreak of AIDS in Taunsa Sharif, where over 100 people, mostly children, have been affected.
According to medical experts, the primary cause of transmission is the reuse of syringes. Following the discovery of the outbreak, a joint mission comprising UNICEF, WHO, and the Punjab Health Department was formed to address the crisis.
From April 7 to 14, a historical tracing of affected children will be conducted, and recommendations for AIDS prevention and control will be presented.
Household screening will also be carried out in the affected areas. To provide adequate care, treatment centers for AIDS patients will be established at Taunsa Headquarters Hospital and other medical centers. Maryam Nawaz has instructed that all affected children receive free treatment and emphasized that no negligence in their care will be tolerated.
An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the causes of the outbreak, and authorities have been directed to identify those responsible. The Chief Minister has also stressed the need for effective measures to protect high-risk populations from AIDS.
This is not the first time Punjab has faced an AIDS outbreak; last November, Maryam Nawaz suspended several medical staff at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, after reports of HIV spreading during dialysis.
