HIV task force orders crackdown on reuse of syringes, calls for nationwide screening
A task force has been established to explore the reasons of increasing in the reporting number of HIV cases and the reuse of infected syringes in the country. This is said in the second meeting at the Ministry of Health in Islamabad on Friday with Minister of State for Health Dr Mukhtar Bharath in the chair.
Senior officials from federal and provincial institutions, health experts and representatives of relevant organizations have attended the meeting. Renowned cardiologist and Punjab government health adviser Major General (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kiani, former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Zafar Mirza, Dean of the Institute of Public Health Lahore Dr Saira Afzal, infectious diseases specialist Dr Sabiha Qazi and Vice Chancellor of Health Services Academy Islamabad Dr Shahzad Ali Khan were the prominent participants. Provincial health secretaries have also joined the session through video link. Meeting was also attended by the officials from the National Institute of Health, DRAP, UNAIDS and the Common Management Unit.
Dr Mukhtar Bharath addressed the meeting and said the objective of the task force is to conduct a detailed investigation into HIV cases, identify those responsible and formulate action plan, sharing recommendations to prevent these alarming cases in the future. He also stressed that cases involving the use of infected and reused syringes would be thoroughly investigated.
The task force has been directed to activate a special dashboard between NIH, CDC and CMU to show a real-time HIV data system aimed at institutional coordination, improving monitoring and trend analysis. Participants have also agreed upon the need to prepare a National Public Health Law for the prevention of HIV in the country.
The spread of HIV through unsafe medical practices is the main cause to surge in number of cases we are seeing. Officials emphasized in the meeting and the stressed over the importance of stronger infection prevention and control measures. Recommendations included mandatory HIV screening and pre-operative testing in hospitals nationwide, regular scrutiny of medical centers and pharmacies and strict penalties for disobedience of rules and regulations related to reusable syringes.
The task force also suggested action against the sale and mislabeling of recyclable syringes and directed to make healthcare commissions fully functional, stable and empowered to ensure effective implementation of patient safety protocols across the country.
Participants have also stressed the need to ensure on time availability of fundamental medical supplies to avoid syringe reuse. The meeting also agreed upon to improve access of testing, treatment and preventive services for high-risk groups and affected areas, include HIV in the list of notifiable diseases and launch an awareness campaign across the country.
Clear responsibilities were assigned to relevant institutions with instructions for immediate steps to prevent misuse of syringes and IV sets. The task force outlyingly recommended that DRAP launched a strict crackdown on reused syringes while ensuring continuous monitoring of medical stores, pharmacies and the distribution networks.
Task force members observed that evidence-based measures were compulsory requirements to prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases. During the meeting, Border Health Services were also directed to ensure provision of medicines and quality medical facilities for HIV-infected children at home, while strengthening medical testing of deportees at airports and other entry points.
