Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has said that following an increase in HIV/AIDS cases in Pakistan, a ban has been imposed on five types of syringes.
Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, Mustafa Kamal stated that reports have emerged regarding an increase in AIDS cases in Taunsa and Islamabad.
The health minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special committee to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Explaining the reasons behind the increase in cases, he said that the rise in HIV/AIDS cases was caused by the use of previously used syringes.
According to Mustafa Kamal, a total of 366,000 people in the country are living with AIDS, adding that HIV/AIDS is not an incurable disease.
He further said that the government is working with the provinces to control the disease and that the use of five types of syringes has been banned.
It is worth mentioning that last month, the Ministry of National Health issued a clarification regarding media reports on AIDS cases in Islamabad and denied claims that there had been a dangerous increase in AIDS cases.
According to the Ministry of Health, there is no evidence of an HIV/AIDS epidemic situation in Islamabad. The monthly number of HIV cases in the capital remains within the normal range, and fluctuations in monthly case numbers are considered normal.
The Ministry of National Health stated that public awareness regarding HIV/AIDS is increasing, leading more people to undergo screening. As screening increases, more cases are likely to be reported. Therefore, an increase in reported HIV/AIDS cases should not be considered a sign of an epidemic situation.
