PESHAWAR:
In an effort to create public awareness against AIDS, schools and religious seminaries should impart sex education to adolescents, according to a doctor speaking as chief guest at a seminar organised on the occasion of World AIDS Day at Rehman Medical Institute (RMI), on Thursday.
Head of the medical department at RMI, Dr Rafiullah Orakzai, stated that Pakistan currently ranked third on the list of countries with the greatest number of AIDS-affected patients in South Asia, followed by India and Nepal. The event was organised by RMI in collaboration with the Provincial AIDS Control Programme (PACP).
He said the disease was pandemic and the majority of cases involved men and women above the age of 15. AIDS is primarily spread by reusing syringes, unsterilised medical instruments and razors and untested blood transfusion.
Rafiullah clarified that the disease is not airborne and does not spread through handshake, coughing, spitting or taking care of AIDS patients, all common misperceptions.
Dr Humera Khan from the RMI stated that 805 people are affected with the disease in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, out of which 303 are HIV positive and the remaining 502 are AIDS patients. However, according to PACP chief Dr Sher Muhammad, there are currently 868 AIDS patients registered with the authorities.
Khan said AIDS patients face tremendous pressure and social stigma and they should not be neglected. She urged the media to play a pivotal role in creating awareness to eliminate AIDS from Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2011.
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