HIV cases in KP

The alarming increase in HIV cases in KP has raised serious concerns among health experts, especially as married women and children are increasingly testing positive. The trend highlights a deep-rooted problem driven by stigma, lack of awareness, unsafe medical practices, and insufficient government interventions. The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demands urgent attention as the virus is beginning to spread beyond high-risk groups into the general population.

Growing Infections Among Women and Children

Doctors at the District Headquarters Hospital in Landi Kotal report that a significant number of newly diagnosed HIV patients are married women and children. Most of these women contracted the virus from male family members, primarily husbands who had worked abroad in Gulf countries or in Pakistan’s major cities. In many cases, these men avoided testing due to fear of social stigma, leaving their wives and children vulnerable.

The silence of infected men, combined with cultural barriers and myths about HIV, forces women to seek medical help alone. Many women only discover their infection when they come to hospitals with severe health complications. According to officials, Khyber district has recorded 313 confirmed HIV cases, making it the second most affected merged district after North Waziristan, which has 383 cases. Across all seven merged districts, the number of confirmed HIV patients has reached 1,488, showing how rapidly the virus is spreading.

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Lack of Awareness and Government Response

Despite the severity of the rising HIV cases in KP, health authorities failed to conduct any awareness activities even on International AIDS Day. Specialists warn that this lack of institutional response is a major reason behind the unchecked spread of the virus. Without proper education, counseling, or community engagement, residents remain unaware of how HIV spreads and how it can be prevented.

Medical professionals stress that HIV is not only transmitted through unsafe sexual contact. In KP’s rural and tribal areas, several other factors contribute to infections, including:

• Contaminated blood transfusions

• Use of unsterilized surgical equipment

• Reuse of syringes by untrained technicians

• Shared barber tools

• Poor hygiene and unsafe medical practices

These risks are rarely discussed publicly, leaving communities uninformed and unprotected.

Doctors Demand Widespread Awareness Campaigns

Healthcare workers are urgently calling for massive awareness campaigns across the province. They recommend launching educational sessions in schools, colleges, mosques, hujras, and jirgas. Community elders and religious leaders must be involved to fight the myths and stigma attached to HIV. Without support at the grassroots level, communities will continue to hide infections instead of seeking testing and treatment.

Meanwhile, District Health Officer Dr. Mustafa Kamal did not respond to inquiries regarding the government’s failure to conduct awareness events or provide support to affected families. This silence reflects the systemic issues within KP’s healthcare structure as it deals with the rising number of HIV cases.

A Human Story of Strength and Survival

The story of Palwasha, a woman living with HIV, highlights the struggles and resilience of patients. Diagnosed at the age of 16 due to a contaminated blood transfusion, Palwasha is now 34 and living a stable, healthy life with the help of proper treatment and precautionary measures. She expresses gratitude that her husband and children have tested negative, a result of timely medical intervention.

But her journey was not easy. Initially, she hid her diagnosis from her family, fearing stigma and rejection. Many people in her community associated HIV with immoral behavior, which made it difficult for her to open up. Her husband’s support became the pillar of her strength, helping her cope emotionally and physically.

Today, Palwasha serves as the president of the Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS Community. She dedicates her time to counseling HIV-positive individuals, helping them access treatment, and spreading awareness about prevention and testing. Her story is proof that with proper medication and support, HIV patients can lead healthy and productive lives.

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KP’s Alarming Statistics

According to official data, HIV cases in KP have reached 8,063 registered patients. The demographic breakdown includes:

• 5,656 adult males

• 1,847 adult females

• 149 transgender individuals

• 243 child males

• 168 child females

Tragically, 1,396 patients have died while on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), and 1,126 patients have been lost to follow-up. Peshawar remains the most affected district with more than 4,000 cases, followed by Bannu.

These statistics reveal a dangerous shift: HIV is no longer confined to high-risk groups such as transgender individuals, injectable drug users, and sex workers. It is now spreading within the general population, especially affecting families through unprotected exposure and unsafe medical practices.

Why HIV Is Increasing in KP

Experts suggest several reasons for the rising HIV cases in KP:

1. Improved Testing Capacity:
   More cases are being diagnosed due to better testing facilities.

2. Mandatory Pre-Surgery Testing:
   Hospitals now require HIV screening before surgeries and blood transfusions.

3. Stigma and Social Fear:
   Many avoid testing due to shame, leading to late detection.

4. Unsafe Medical Practices:
   Untrained technicians, reuse of syringes, and unregulated clinics are major contributors.

5. Lack of Self-Testing Kits:
   Unlike Punjab and Sindh, KP does not offer HIV self-testing kits, limiting early detection.

6. Confidentiality Concerns:
   To avoid exposure, many patients travel to other districts for treatment.

Treatment, Longevity, and Prevention

HIV treatment is lifelong, but modern medicine has made it highly effective. With regular Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), HIV-positive individuals can live 70–80 years. The virus itself does not kill; rather, untreated HIV eventually progresses into AIDS, where the body’s immune system becomes too weak to fight infections.

To prevent the spread of HIV, KP must prioritize:

• Expanded testing services

• Strict monitoring of blood banks and clinics

• Availability of self-testing kits

• Public education campaigns

• Training healthcare staff in safe practices

• Reducing stigma through community involvement

Conclusion

The sharp rise in HIV cases in KP is a public health emergency that requires immediate and coordinated action. Women and children—who are often uninformed, unprotected, and silenced by stigma—are among the most vulnerable. Palwasha’s story demonstrates that with awareness, treatment, and compassion, HIV can be controlled, and patients can live full lives.

KP’s government, health authorities, and community leaders must work together to break the stigma, promote testing, and ensure safe medical practices. Only then can the province slow down the spread of HIV and protect future generations.