AP, ISLAMABADA group of Pakistani doctors is blaming an outbreak of HIV among children in a southern city on poor healthcare practices, such as using dirty needles and contaminated blood, a statement released yesterday said. They also warned that there is not enough medication in Ratodero, where 591 children need medical treatment. They studied the medical data of 31,239 people in Ratodero, where the HIV outbreak took place and who agreed to the study. “The results, which are the first scientific report on the outbreak, appear to confirm observations ... that HIV was mostly transmitted to children as a result of healthcare providers using contaminated needles and blood products,” the statement said. In the immediate aftermath of the HIV outbreak in Ratodero, the government did act quickly — closing three blood banks, as well as 300 clinics run by untrained medical staff — the statement said.

Source: Taipei Times December 20, 2019 16:05 UTC