PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR
MONDAY THE 19TH AUGUST, 2019
622. *Mr. Khurram Sher Zaman: Will the Minister for Health be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that viral load test for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, is not available in many locales of interior Sindh;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the reasons thereof?
ANSWER
DR. AZRA FAZAL PECHUHO, MINISTER FOR HEALTH:
No, it is not a fact. Viral load testing is the key intervention to monitor the treatment response in HIV / AID patients. Such free of cost testing service is being provided through Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi to all patients of HIV / AIDS under a MoU which is valid till year 2020.
(b) Not applicable
632. *Mr. Khurram Sher Zaman: Will the Minister for Health be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that patients are being infected with HIV/AIDS after getting dialysis at the CMCH, Larkana dialysis centre;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, action taken in this regard?
ANSWER
DR. AZRA FAZAL PECHUHO, MINISTER FOR HEALTH:
(a) No, it is not a fact that patients are being infected with HIV / AIDS at dialysis center of CMCH, Larkana.
In fact, the Hemodialysis machines are not the source of HIV infection because these machines have auto disinfection mechanism i.e hot rinsing and solution rinsing with Citosteril. Moreover, Human Immune Virus (HIV) is a heat labile virus which usually killed at 80-850C while hemodialysis machines having heating temperature above that level. Else, the dialyzers used for dialysis of patients have small pores then the size of virus and in spite of all new dialyzer is used for every patient.
(b) Not applicable
641. *Mr. Khurram Sher Zaman: Will the Minister for Health be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that HIV Treatment & Care Center of Larkana has no kits for blood screening and faces a shortage of staff;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the reasons thereof?
ANSWER
DR. AZRA FAZAL PECHUHO, MINISTER FOR HEALTH:
(a) No, it is not a fact. The HIV Treatment & Care Center at Larkana has sufficient number of kits for blood screening of HIV. Such detail is as under:
Sr
|
Type of HIV Kit
|
Number of Kits supplied
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Number of Tests conducted
|
Balance as on 25.10.2018
|
1
|
Alere Determine
|
13 Kit (100 test per kit)
|
1000
|
03 Kits (300 tests)
|
2
|
Uni Gold
|
20 Kit (20 test per kit)
|
280
|
06 Kits (120 tests)
|
3
|
SD Biolone
|
10 Kit (25 test per kit)
|
200
|
02 Kits (50 tests)
|
Furthermore, the HIV Treatment Center Larkana is fully functional and there is no shortage of staff.
b) As above.
976. *Ms. NusratSeharAbbasi: Will the Minister for Health be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that huge number of patients have been diagnosed suffering from AIDS in the province;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, the details thereof along with steps taken to counter it?
ANSWER
DR. AZRA FAZAL PECHUHO, MINISTER FOR HEALTH:
a). In fact, from 31st December 2003 till September 2018 total 239 patients have been diagnosed suffering from AIDS in the Province.
b). Following steps are being taken to counter the HIV / AIDS disease:
i. A multisectoral, comprehensive & sustainable response to HIV / AIDS based on evidence, transparency and accountability through active involvement of district government, administrative, civil society and the target beneficiaries in implementation and monitoring of HIV related interventions and Service Delivery Packages (SDPs).
ii. To create an enabling environment so that People Living with HIV can access medical, social and support services free of cost without stigma and discrimination so that adherence to treatment (ART) reaches to 90% by the end of FY 2023.
iii. To control the incidence of HIV / AIDS development of Family Health Awareness Centers at the district level and availability of SDPs for Most At Risk Population (MARP) by 2019-20.
iv. Target is to increase the coverage up to 80% in high risk groups and expansion of HIV Care services at District and Tertiary Care Hospital level.
v. Implementation of Sindh HIV / AIDS Control, Treatment and Protection Act-2013 and Notification of Sindh AIDS Commission.
1090. *Mr. Omar Omari: Will the Minister for Health be pleased to state:-
Steps taken by the Sindh Government to control AIDs in the province along with fund allocated for the same during 2017-18 as well as amount actually spent?
ANSWER
DR. AZRA FAZAL PECHUHO, MINISTER FOR HEALTH:
Following are the steps taken by the Health Department, Government of Sindh to control HIV / AIDS Disease in the Province:
Investigation / Diagnostic / Treatment Services.
1. Diagnostic Labs at Civil Hospital, Karachi and CMCH Hospital, Larkana as Provincial Referral labs.
2. Special Investigations i.e viral load testing through AKUH collection centers at district level in Sindh
3. CD-4 testing are being provided through HIV Treatment Centers at Civil Hospital, Karachi, CMCH, Larkana and LUH Hyderabad.
4. Treatment Centers for adults are functional at Civil Hospital, Lyari General Hospital, JPMC, Karachi CMCH Larkana, LUH Hyderabad, GMMMCH Sukkur.
5. Pediatric Treatment Centers are functioning at Civil Hospital.
6. Treatment Centers in Private Sector are also functioning for adults at Indus Hospital, Karachi and for Children at Agha Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
7. The services provided at treatment centers are:
· Free Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART)
· Treatment and referral for opportunistic infections.
· Primary Health Care facilities
· Lab Investigations
· Counseling
· TB Prophylaxis
8. Forty Six (46) Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Clinics functioning in District Head Quarter Hospitals (02 in each DHQ, one each for male and female).
9. At Civil Hospital, Karachi &Shaikh Zaid Women Hospital, Larkana&Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana the services for Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) are being rendered which comprises of following:
· Screening of pregnant women.
· Pre & Post counseling of suspected mothers
· Safe delivery of baby & care and support to both in case of HIV positive.
10. Twenty one (21) Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing Centers (VCCT) are functioning all over the districts of Sindh for screening of HIV, Pre &Post test counseling and referral for investigations and treatment.
11. Services for Prevention, Screening and provision of treatment to jail inmates are being rendered.
12. Periodical awareness sessions / Trainings / Workshops to different vulnerable groups and stakeholders are being arranged.
13. PC-I for the FY 2016-19 is approved with overall aiming at scope of HIV Care services to be provided through STIs and Surveillance centers at District and Tertiary care hospitals level by:
· Establishing another 03 new treatment centers atAbbassi Shaheed Hospital Karachi, Peoples Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah (SBA) and Civil Hospital, Mirpurkhas.
· Maximum (around 80%) coverage of services to high risk groups through NGOs
· Provision of Opioid Substitution therapy (OST) for IDUs New service delivery package for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
· Three layered HIV Prevention, Care and support Program:
i. 378 Family Health Awareness Counter (FHAC) at the level of BHU’s, RHC’s and THQ’s
ii. District Family Health Centers (DFHC) in all Districts of Sindh
iii. Tertiary Care Family Health Centers (TCFHC) in Sindh
Ø The total amount of funds allocated / released during 2017-18 = Rs. 225.647 Million
Ø The total Expenditure during 2017-18 = Rs. 120.071 Million
KARACHI: G.M UMAR FAROOQ
DATED THE 18TH AUGUST, 2019 SECRETARY
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
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