Public health: ‘Awareness key to preventing AIDS’

Street theatre to educate public about HIV arranged in Faisalabad

LAHORE: The Punjab AIDS Control Programme on Saturday staged a street theatre in Faisalabad to confront taboos related to HIV and AIDS.

“The aim of the 30-minute play, staged under the banner of Youth Helping Youth, is to educate people about safe sex. It also aims to break the taboos related to HIV patients,” Punjab AIDS Control Programme head Faisal Majeed told The Express Tribune.

He said the play would be staged in various cities across the province. Last week, the performance was arranged in Gowalmandi’s Food Street and Mochi Gate and Yakki Gate areas in Lahore.

Majeed said awareness was the key to preventing AIDS among the youth. “Many of the AIDS patients do not receive appropriate support and care. Many others are unaware of preventive measures,” he said.

Vulnerable areas

Majeed said Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Multan and Rawalpindi were among the vulnerable areas with regard to AIDS prevalence. He said as many as 5,000 people, including women and children, in these cities had been registered as HIV carriers.

“We have established rehabilitation centres in these areas. These have helped in great deal in controlling the AIDS spread,” Majeed said. He said that a majority of affected children had contracted the virus from their mothers.

“The theatre play stresses that education is one of the most effective tools to protect children from the disease,” he said.

He said the authorities had started rehabilitation of 125 women, registered as AIDS patients, so that newborns can be protected from the HIV infection. “Their medication in under way.” Majeed said that people having multiple sexual partners were more prone to the disease. “Safe sex is crucial for controlling the AIDS,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2016.