Number of children with HIV increases, seminar told

KARACHI – The Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture (CBEC) at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) hosted a day-long seminar to tackle Pakistan's rising HIV epidemic, with a specific focus on children's growing vulnerability. Organized in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) - Eastern Mediterranean Region, the event united local and international health professionals, bioethicists, public health experts, journalists, and civil society advocates to tackle medical, social, and ethical hurdles posed by HIV in Pakistan.

Pakistan's swiftly growing HIV crisis, recognized by a 2023 WHO report that showed a sharp rise from 530 cases in children under 14 in 2010 to approximately 1,800 cases in 2023, was the core focus of the discussion. The seminar kicked off with welcoming remarks from CBEC chairperson, Professor Aamir Jafarey, and Dr. Arshad Altaf from the WHO-EMRO.

A keynote address from Professor Elizabeth Bukusi, based in Nairobi, Kenya, presented insights from Africa's HIV responses in resource-constrained environments. Bukusi stressed the importance of bolstering healthcare infrastructure, enhancing treatment accessibility, and ensuring affected communities are actively engaged in epidemic control efforts.

Dr. Muhammad Shahid Jamil of WHO-EMRO then shed light on the HIV response landscape across the Eastern Mediterranean Region, pinpointing shared challenges and opportunities for stronger collaboration and public health actions. Meanwhile, Dr. Samreen Sarfaraz from Indus Hospital and Health Network gave a comprehensive update on Pakistan's HIV scenario, tackling myths about the disease, evolving trends among children and vulnerable groups, healthcare-associated transmission, stigma, and delayed diagnoses.

She also emphasized the barriers patients and their families encounter in accessing adequate care and support.

The speakers agreed that the fight against HIV transcends medical treatment. Fear, misinformation, stigma, and weak trust can dissuade individuals from receiving care, underscoring the importance of safeguarding the rights, dignity, and privacy of those living with HIV as a cornerstone of an effective public health strategy. The seminar underscored that scientific and medical advancements must be complemented by robust healthcare systems, broader access to testing and treatment, improved infection prevention measures, and increased community involvement.

The seminar, entitled "Nothing about Us, Without Us," particularly highlighted the need for patients, families, and affected communities to have a substantial say in health decisions and policies. Attendees included health journalists and civil society organizations focusing on HIV-related matters, including UNOPS, Nai Zindagi Trust Sindh, and Bridge Consultants Foundation. Their contributions enriched the discourse.

CBEC, SIUT, dedicated to promoting bioethics education, research, and policy dialogue, and granted WHO Collaborating Centre status in 2017, concluded the seminar with a consensus that combating HIV necessitates a multifaceted approach encompassing quality medical care, public awareness, ethical healthcare practices, equitable service access, and respect for the rights and dignity of people living with HIV.