HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – of which AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the most advanced stage – is a disease that many avoid discussing openly in Pakistan for fearing of alienation. Despite widespread awareness and medical advancements, there is a reluctance to view it as a legitimate medical condition.

For a significant number of people, it is seen as the consequence of personal choices gone awry. This narrow perspective often leads to rejection from family and close acquaintances, making treatment a daunting task and maintaining one's livelihood a constant struggle. The fear of losing relationships and jobs forces many patients to live in denial, allowing the disease to worsen — even though it is now treatable

The HIV epidemic is on the rise in Pakistan, with an estimated 330,000 people infected by the disease. High-risk groups include individuals who use intravenous drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people.

However, there is another grim aspect to this rise: medical practitioners using unhygienic and unsafe medical equipment, particularly used syringes. For years, Larkana in Sindh has been identified as an epicentre of HIV, with a significant number of patients, including children.

At the heart of this harmful attitude - shaped by misinformation, religious conservatism and moral judgment — is a culture that resists open conversations, discourages testing and, in cases of a positive diagnosis, drives people into........

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