November 11, 2008

Thirty per cent of drug users using injections contract HIV/AIDS, along with 7.5 per cent male sex workers, and 3 per cent transgender sex workers in Pakistan. This was revealed by Dr Arshad Altaf, senior provincial surveillance support officer Sindh Aids Control program, at the International Symposium on Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Global Perspectives: Local Solutions, held at Aga Khan University (AKU) as part of the centenary celebration of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and the 25^th Anniversary of AKU.

Discussing technical and social problems faced in addressing prevention of HIV and other diseases issues Dr. Altaf said that “one of the key problem in tacking HIV prevention efforts is the size of the city”.  Mr Arif Hasan, Architect/Planner Chairman Urban Resource Centre Karachi, emphasised that “city planning should be based on emerging trends as opposed to simply dealing with existing conditions”.

The symposium also focused on tuberculosis (TB) in Pakistan. Dr Noor Ahmed Balouch, Manager, National Tuberculosis Control Programme of the Ministry of Health, Pakistan, and Dr Samiha Baghdadi, from the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, led a discussion on approaches and strategies for the management of Multidrug Resistant TB in Pakistan. Dr. Rumina Hasan Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology and Microbiology informed that “5% of tuberculosis strains in Karachi are resistant to first line drug used in TB treatment”. She also highlighted the need to strengthen TB diagnostic facilities in the country. “Simple infection control steps such as appropriate cover for cough, sneezing and frequent hand washing will greatly reduce spread of multidrug resistant TB in the country” was stated by Dr. Afia Zafar Associate Professor and Section Head of Clinical Microbiology; a leading infection control expert in Pakistan.

Professor Hazel Dockrell, Deputy Director (Research) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) said that “TB is a global health threat and a large number of research groups are trying to identify novel methods for TB vaccines including use of viral vectors and fusion proteins”. Speakers also discussed the importance of vaccine development for the prevention of other infectious diseases in Pakistan. Dr Anita Zaidi Professor of Paediatrics at the Aga Khan University mentioned that “rotavirus is an important cause of diarrhoeal diseases in Pakistan and emphasised the need for antirota vaccine in the country”.

Professor Saeed Hamid, Chairman, Department of Medicine, AKU, identified that Hepatitis E virus infection in pregnant women may have serious outcome. He highlighted that “effective vaccine against this virus has been developed and that women of childbearing age would be a prime group for this vaccine”.

The symposium continues on Wednesday 12^th and Thursday 13^th with further sessions on tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, HIV, hepatitis, antimicrobial resistance and hospital infection control. In addition a special sessions has been organized to address the role of women in science in Pakistan.