The Sindh Assembly was told on Monday that 25 HIV/AIDS screening centres operating in Sindh had so far detected 976 positive cases in the province and efforts to educate people on sexually transmitted diseases were being made to save the vulnerable group from catching infection. The session began at 1140 hours with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussein Shah in the chair. The day began with quietness in the House as treasury and the opposition remained in some kind of contemplative mood on obtaining political situation and seemed accommodative.
However, the situation could not remain peaceful for a long time and the two sides began to exchange hot words. The proceedings progressed in the same atmosphere.
In his written reply to question on health matters Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim told that HIV/AIDS cases were on rise and 976 cases had been detected so far. Of the total, 102 full-blown cases include 89 men, 12 women and one child.
"Sindh HIV/AIDS control programme is maintaining 25 screening, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centres and 46 sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics. These centres located in district headquarters and tertiary care hospitals throughout the province provide pre and post counselling services, screening services, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases including treatment of secondary infections".
"In addition the Sindh AIDS control programme is also implementing service delivery package for creating awareness regarding prevention and spread of HIV/AIDS and treatment facilities of sexually transmitted infections to high-risk population ie prostitutes, eunuchs and drug addicts using injections, syringes".
Responding to a question CM said, "the total sanctioned posts of doctors (BPS 17 and above) are 233 out of which 130 lying vacant while total sanctioned posts of non-gazetted (other categories) are 660 out of which 53 posts lying vacant."
He didn't replied to a question pertaining to banning Gutka, an injurious betel nut preparation that may cause mouth cancer.
To a question regarding treatment and rehabilitation of handicapped children, he said that out of 14 civil hospitals in Sindh only Civil Hospital Karachi and Civil Hospital Khairpur had the related facility/unit. Government was working on a proposal to set up such units at each civil hospital, he added.
The opposition criticised the government for its inability to improve health care facilities in the province and said even anti venom vaccine was not available in the constituency of the chief minister.
However, the chief minister through his written replies conceded to the observation of the opposition that the health care sector had been neglected and needed overall improvement.
APP adds that the members from the opposition on House Business Committee announced their resignation from membership as protest against one hour and 20 minutes late start of the session. Opposition leader, Nisar Khoro standing on point of order informed the speaker that the session had been decided to start from 1030 hours but its started at 1140 hours so they announce their resignation in protest.
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