Zubair Qureshi
The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has joined hands with the rest of the world to commemorate World AIDS Day in Pakistan.
Dr. Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health attended the World AIDS Day event and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ending the AIDS endemic.
Dr. Faisal Sultan shared that the ministry has been working closely with provinces to take steps to work with communities to halt the spread of new infections.
“With support from Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, we are providing free of cost HIV diagnostic, treatment, care and support services to people living with HIV through dedicated HIV treatment centers. Even multi-month dispensation has been ensured during lockdowns through door-to-door service provision,” he added.
He further shared that, “we devised national and provincial AIDS Strategies, setting the plan of action for 2021-2025 that show support from the government to create an enabling environment with multi-sectoral engagement to address legislative, socio-cultural-economic, religious, political, legal, and financial determinants that can influence HIV awareness, education, prevention, care, treatment, and support initiatives.”
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony Ms. Yuki Takemoto, UNAIDS Country Director for Pakistan and Afghanistan, said that HIV/AIDS still threatens the world including Pakistan.
Sharing his opinion, UN Resident Coordinator, Pakistan, Julien Harneis, said that for the course corrections, we need to end AIDS as it will also protect Pakistan against future pandemics.
Speaking in the ceremony, Asghar Satti, National Coordinator of Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS, stressed for HIV testing for ensuring that all people living with HIV can lead a healthy and productive life.
“Both AIDS and COVID-19 can be ended, and future pandemics can be prevented with strong political leadership, action and accountability,” he remarked.
This ceremony was followed by the handicraft stalls displayed by marginalized section of society and work by the Joint UN Team on AIDS in support of the HIV response in Pakistan and Women’s Economic Empowerment in which handicrafts by women living with HIV were displayed.
