International Experts Hold Series Of Meetings To Discuss HIV Outbreak

The team of international experts from World Health Organization (WHO- Geneva), Center for Disease Control (CDC) Atlanta – US besides Unicef and UNAIDS here on Wednesday had series of meetings with local authorities and researchers to collect their input about current outbreak of HIV among children in Ratodero, Larkana

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – APP – ) :The team of international experts from World Health Organization (WHO- Geneva), Center for Disease Control (CDC) Atlanta – US besides Unicef and UNAIDS here on Wednesday had series of meetings with local authorities and researchers to collect their input about current outbreak of HIV among children in Ratodero, Larkana.

Healthcare providers and researchers pertaining to different reputable institutions of the country shared their observation along with data besides forwarding their recommendations to address the situation.

Sindh Health Minister, Dr. Azra Peechuho along with senior officials of provincial health department apprised the team of the series of measures adopted to address the situation.

Dedicated centres to treat children infected with HIV coupled with series of screening units in Ratodero and other area located with in its 10 kilometer vicinity were said to be actively functional in the concerned areas.

Provincial health authorities appreciated support committed by WHO in providing screening kits for the established facilities.

The 12 member international team currently visiting Pakistan include Dr. Oliver Morgan, (Director of Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment of WHO Health Emergencies Programme), Dr.

Hammad Ali and Dr. Elizabeth Rabold Medical Epidemiologist (CDC – Atlanta), Muhammad Tayyab, a medical epidemiologist from Pakistan (representing WHO’s EMRO region), Walter Zingg (IPC/hospital epidemiologist and paediatric expert) from Switzerland, Joumana Hermez Lead, HIV EMRO from Lebanon, Lara Vojnov Diagnostic expert from Canada/Ireland, Serena Brusamento HIV Paediatric Expert from Italy and Dr.Yetmgeta Abdella, an expert of blood safety and transfusion from Ethiopia,Dr Taufik Bakkali from UNAIDS – Bangkok,Karl Schenkel, an epidemiologist from Germany and Dr. Lisa Hedman an expert in injection safety from USA They in their endeavour to identify root cause of HIV among children will leave for Larkana on Thursday morning so as to not only ascertain requirements in accordance to medical/ status of the children but also to start with the urgently demanded field work.

According to Sindh health department officials WHO and the UN partner teams will work together with the provincial authorities to eradicate HIV and provide treatment to the affected population without any unnecessary delay