Associated Press - Monday December 2, 2002
Sadaqat Jan, Associated Press Writer

Just 1,700 people have tested positive for HIV in Pakistan, a country of more than 140 million people, and 230 cases of full-blown AIDS have been reported so far. But U.N. officials say as many as 80,000 HIV cases may have gone unreported.

A spokesman for the state-run National AIDS Program, Qamar Siddiqi, said that although the numbers of those known to be infected is small, there's no reason for complacency. The vast majority of people never get tested and many aren't even aware of the risk of HIV infection, he said.

Siddiqi said his agency is using the media to try to boost HIV awareness, especially among the highest risk groups like sex workers, drug users and truck drivers.

"Drugs, sex - you can get whatever you want at the hotels between Peshawar and Karachi," said Pervez Khan, a 35-year-old driver.

On Sunday, countries marked World Aids Day and called for greater awareness and help to stem the growing epidemic.

There are 42 million HIV positive people worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa the worst affected region, according to UNAIDS, the U.N.'s AIDS agency. Asia is second.

Education is an uphill battle in Pakistan and other South Asian countries where such topics are often taboo.

But in Pakistan state-funded television campaigns - watched by drivers on TVs set up at roadside restaurants - are helping, Khan said.

"Now people are scared. They know about the disease," Khan said.

According to UNAIDS, 68 percent of reported HIV cases in Pakistan were caused by sexual transmission. Exposure to contaminated blood or its products was responsible for 17 percent cases.

Siddiqi said officials believe that many HIV infections are picked up overseas.

Papa, the Nigerian prisoner, was caught with drugs as he tried to get a flight out of Pakistan. He was sentenced to five years in jail and tested positive to HIV earlier this year a state-run hospital in Rawalpindi city.

Abid Atiq, a UNAIDS program officer in Pakistan, said a new US$47 million, five-year HIV awareness and prevention program is due to start next year and will focus on prostitutes and truck drivers.

The program aims to improve blood screening at state-run health care facilities. It will also encourage prostitutes to use condoms and provide them with free treatment in cases of infection, Atiq said.

At a truck stop on Islamabad's outskirts, drivers described how teenage recruits - often runaways - are taken on the road to learn the job and often end up being exploited for sex.

"All sorts of things happen. We have eunuchs at night. They do everything - massages and everything," said Tanvir Zaman, a cleaner at the roadstop.

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