The News tnternational, Karachi, Friday, July 24, 2028


Another child tests
positive for HIV as Valika
Hospital seeks specialist:

to probe outbreak

By M. Wagar Bhatti

KARACHI: A twoycarold ©

child has tested positive for
HIV in the latest case linked
to Karachi’s Valika Hospital
outbreak, taking the total
number of infected children
to 95, as the hospital admin-
istration sought the services
of an infectious disease
specialist to investigate
the spread of the virus and
strengthen infection control
measures, . . ..

Hospital offictals said
the latest patient was
placed under specialist

" tion prevention and control

. Dr Saadat Memon, focal
person for HIV at Valika
Hospital, said the hos-
pital had also contacted
MMIDSP, requesting its
experts to visit the facility,
review infection control
arrangements, assist in
investigating the possible
causes of HIV transmission
and provide technical guld-
ance to doctors and health:
care workers. He expressed
hope that an infectious
diseases specialist would
soon start working at the

care after testing positive hospital.

for HIV, The child's father :

sald he had five children
and would have all of them

: Meanwhile, the hosp{-
tal has constituted a sev-
en-member Infection Pro


special ward for HIV-in-
fected children.

The ombudsman’s team | &

directed the hospital admin-
istration to complete and
operationalise the special
ward at the earliest so that
affected children could
receive treatment, medi-
cines and other essential
services in one dedicated

facility. The hospital admin- | Br,

istration informed the vis-
iting team that the project
was in its final stages and

would soon become opera-| P

tional.

Separately, the provin-|#

cia] ombudsman has sought

-an interim progress report

from the secretary labour
and the commissioner

screened to ensure early vention and Control (IPC)
diagnosis and treatment if Committee to strengthen
any other family member infection control and
was infected, Nine children improve patient safety.
linked to the outbreak have Hospital officials acknowl-

of Sessi by noon today,
declaring the matter “most
urgent. .

The ombudsman has
also directed the authori-


RA WALPINDI:  Work ona pedestrian street for tne: beautification of Commercial Market inp progress.  — Hak Raja


died $0 far, while treatment
of the remaining affected
children fs continuing. : .

* Ina significant develop-

edged that the committee
currently does not include
& permanent infectious dis
eases spectalist, making

ties to update the record
of HIV patients with the
assistance of the Sindh
Health Department and the


‘Let Freedom Ring’:

FIA unearths fake.

Ment, the management of the deputation of such an Centres for Disease Control
Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospi- expertapriority. .- . (CDC), report progress on
tal has formally approached = The administration has the ongoing spectal audit at
the Sindh Health Depart- also requested MMIDSP to SESSI, submit details of dis-
ment for the deputation of train members of the IPC ciplinary action against offi-

exhibition opens at Lok Virsa
“By Jamia Renaiaat     hg esters of the United Sees

medico-legal racket at PIMS

an infectious diseases spe
cialist, as no such expert
is currently available at the
hospital. The administra-
tion has also sought tech>
nical assistance from the
Medical Microbiology and

committee and hospital
staff in infection preven:
tion, biomedical waste man-

cials found responsible and
develop clear job descrip-
tions for key administrative

ment, patient safety and positions.

agement
internationally accepted -

infection contro] practices,
: Hospital officials said

Infectious Diseases Society experts from the society
of Pakistan (MMIDSP) to were expected to visit the
help investigate the possible hospital shortly to provide
causes of the outbreak and technical support and con-
strengthen infection preven- duct training sessions.

Gon and control practices,         The latest measures fol-
Hospital sources said the low directives {issued by
commisstoner of the Sindh the provincial ombudsman
Employees’ Soctal Secu- of Sindh after complaints
rily Institution (Sessi) had _ regarding the treatment and
written to the Sindh Health facilities available to HIV-in-
Department requesting fected children.

that an infectious diseases *

Ateam of the Ombuds.”

‘The ombudsman further
ordered improvements in
biomedical waste man-
agement, strengthening of
infection contro] systems,
establishment of Isolation
facilities and provision of
psychological support to
HIV-infected children and
their families,

The outbreak at Kul-
soom Baj Valika Hospital
has remained under seru-
tiny for several months,

i with affected famities| independence. -

ISLAMABAD: The US Embassy  23 to July 27 at two of sha
launched the “Let Freedom bad's most prominent cultural
Ring” Liberty Bel] display institutions, including the Lok
at Lok Virsa Museum here Virsa Muscum and the Pakistan
Thuroday during special cer» Monument Museum,    .
‘emony attendad by US Charge - Members of the public

aAtiures Andy Hiatus and Fes  are invited to visit both loca-
etal Minister for National Her- tions and experience the bells
itage and Culture Aurangzeb  throughout the five-day display
Khan Khichit                      period

‘The evert marked the cul." During the launch cere-
mination of a unique culuzal mony, Andy reflected on the
collaboration between the significance of the project:
US Mission to Pakistan and ‘Looking at this bell, J am
Pakistani artists from across reminded of something that
the country, brought together Pakistan and the United States
under the banner of United share deeply, a belief in the
States’ 250th anniversary of power of expression, ofart and
of the freedom to imagine a

repeatedly protesting delays| . Atthe hautofthe Initistive, better workL

Specialist be deputed to man's office recently
the hospital to assist inthe visited the hospital,
diagnosis, surveillance and reviewed treatment
investigation of HIV and arrangements, met affected
other infectlous diseases, families and Inspected the

in treatment, medicines and | the Mission's Public Diplomacy “- Lok Virsa has spent do
the release of endowment | Section via its Linco Comers ades preserving that spirit in
funds while demanding | network, collaborated with 16 Pakistan Today, we are proud

By Shakeel Anjum          marked bills a3 an advance  ment in ther reports,
payment, prompting offi- . Those taken into cus:
ISLAMABAD;  The Federal ¢lals to apprehend the sus- tody include a medico-le-
Investigation Agency's pects red-handed as the gal officer stationed at the
Anti-Corruption Circle has transaction took place.       hospital, a lower division
dismantled an alleged fake: Investigative findings clerk identified as Mluham-
Taedico-legal certificate indicate the network roue mad Usman, and a ward
racket operating out of the tinely forged medico-legal boy narned Rameez Akhtar.
Pakistan Institute of Medi- certificates in exchange for Investigators noted that
cal Sciences (PIMS), arrest illicit payments.           Usman was caught in the
ing three individuals during, - These falsified docu- act of accepting the marked
atargeted sting operation. ments were subsequently bills, which directly impli-
The operation was utilizedto fabricate grounds cated the remaining two
launched following credi- for registering fake criminal suspects.
ble intelligence reports and cases across multiple police During the raid, agency
was executed under the stations in Islamabad, In personnel seized official
direct supervision of ajudl instances where prospec- records detailing previ-
cial magistrate. Acting on tive applicants had suffered ously issued certificates. A
authorisation from compe- no physical harm, the sus- subsequent forensic analy-
tent authorities, an unders pects allegedly inflicted sis of the suspects’ mobile.
cover investigator posed as intentional, superficial cuts devices yielded incriminat-
an applicant secking a frauxd- on individuals and stitched ing messages and financial
ulent certificate. The officer them up to manufacture transaction logs supporting

accountability for those | Pakistani artists to create to add America’s own story of handed over Rs50,000 in physical evidence to docu- the corruption charges, ~

responsible for the spread  Toate replicas of the konle  freedom to this special place.”

besides improving infec. under-construction 26-bed of HIV,»


Local production vital for
economic : growith: Tarar


RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazir Tarar and
Murree Brewery CEO t isphanyar Bhandara Inaugurate new soft dilaks $ production

facility. —

RAWALPINDE Federal Min-
ister for Law and Justice,
Senator Azam Nazeet Tarar

output increases. With such
& large market, how can we

machinery, employment has
not been eliminated. This,

Minister Khichi wekcomed
a ‘arts was invited to. the initiative as a reflection
interpret one powerful ques- of the strong bilateral ties
tion: “What does freedom between Pakistan and the
Totan to me?” The result is 16 United States, underscoring
uniquely vibrant bells, each a the role of art and cultural
distinct Pakistani expeession of  exchange in deepening these
concept central to the found. relations.

NHA accelerates GB
highway restoration’


ISLAMABAD/GILGIT: The located on the Gilgit side of] Ahmad Cheema for making Qaiser and Qurratul Ain”

National Highway Authority the Jaglot-Skardu Road. Heavy
(NILA) has intensified emergency machinery dispatched from
clearance and restoration work Shutot {s currently clearing
on major highway networks landslides between KM 16
actoss Gilgt-Baltistan folowing (Ansar Camp) and KM 25 (Han
recent heavy rainfall, mudflows, ochal), Immediately after clear-
and severe kndblides. NILA fick] Ing the route al KM 25, restora.
teams and heavy machinery ton work willbe initiated on the
remaln fully deployed across Skardussde (Abutment 2), . .~
all affected areas to e