Karachi (UrduLight.com) The order to start the treatment of transgenders suffering from AIDS today
Implementation of the first Barad AIDS Control Treatment and Protection Act 2013 in Pakistan
During the hearing of the case in the Sindh High Court against non-treatment of a eunuch suffering from AIDS in the civil hospital, the administration of Dr. Ruth KM Fawsol Hospital was ordered to start the treatment of AIDS patients today.
The court while ordering to ensure the treatment of transgender patients also asked the provincial health secretary for an implementation report.
It is happening for the first time in Pakistan that the Sindh HIV and AIDS Control Treatment and Protection Act 2013 is being used. was requested.
Background of the case
In May last month, 27-year-old Khawaja Sarachanda, after being injured in a road accident, rushed to Civil Hospital to seek treatment for her bleeding wounds, where she was treated.
However, when she went to the hospital to be bandaged again, the staff were not wearing gloves, so her friend told the staff that the injured woman had HIV and that they should protect themselves.
After which the staff refused to touch the donation.
Not only this, but he also sent the HIV status of the donation to other hospitals on WhatsApp.
In such a situation, Chanda went to the civil hospital again to bandage the wounds, but the doctors and staff there refused to do so.
Attempts were then made to treat Chanda at home, but her wounds developed infections and maggots. As a result of which she finally died.
Chanda, a transgender woman living with HIV, died of bleeding from a wound.
This is not the first time that a person infected with HIV/AIDS has been denied medical care.
Because of the stigma attached to the disease, health care providers refuse to treat HIV-positive people, especially when the patient needs to be touched.
This is the first time in Pakistan that transgender rights activists have filed an application in court against civil hospital for discrimination.
According to Sara Malkani, a lawyer representing the petitioners, three of the petitioners are in urgent need of medical attention, but the civil hospital staff refused to provide medical assistance to the victims.
One of the petitioners is in urgent need of hip surgery, the other requires regular dialysis and blood transfusions, while the third petitioner needs medical care for a hernia, which is also incurable. Due to this, the intensity of its swelling and pain is increasing.
Activist Hina Baloch, one of the petitioners, told Aaj News that we have six such cases, one of which is a patient who will die anytime if treatment is not provided.
Along with these three HIV patients, Hina Baloch and Princess Rai are also among the petitioners. Hina Baloch and Princess Roy work for HIV/AIDS prevention in the transgender community.
How does AIDS spread?
HIV is usually spread through unprotected sex or the misuse of injecting drugs such as syringes and needles, it can also be spread from mother to child or through unscreened blood transfusions. However, according to data from Communicable Disease Control Sindh, only 0.77% of all HIV infections in Sindh are transmitted during care settings.
According to Hina Baloch, the government is responsible for providing disposable surgical kits for the treatment of HIV positive patients, if the kits are not being provided, then the government is responsible and if they are being provided, then why not use them. is being done.
Since 2016, the number of people infected with HIV has increased by more than 240 percent in Pakistan, and by more than 300 percent in Sindh alone.
