People living with AIDS need to be destigmatised

Experts suggest creating greater awareness surrounding disease

ISLAMABAD:

People in Pakistan who are infected with HIV and AIDS not only have to fight the virus, but also a stigma and discrimination from society and there is a need to tackle that.

This was stated by speakers during a seminar held in connection with World Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Day on Wednesday. The seminar had been organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with the Islamabad Founder Lions Club (IFLC).

ICCI President Sardar Yasir Khan said that World AIDS Day is a reminder for us to unite in the fight against human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and show solidarity with the people living with the virus.

In our society, he said, people who are infected with HIV face stigma and discrimination, which prevents them from living a full and happy life.

Yasir called for educating the public to change their negative mindset.

To keep the disease from spreading, he said that there is a need to prevent unsafe blood transfusions and the use of unsterilised medical and dental equipment - the main causes of the spread of HIV and AIDS in Pakistan.

For this purpose, he urged the government to take up a greater role and strong measures against such unhealthy practices.

The ICCI president further stressed on enhancing the capacity of healthcare workers, while increasing adherence to injection safety and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ways to implement safe blood transfusion.

Maroof Hospital Chief Executive Officer Chaudhry Haroon gave a detailed presentation on the technical aspects of AIDS, its progression, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.

He said that some 1.7 million people across the world have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2019 alone, while 38 million people are living with HIV globally. Moreover, he said that some 690,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses during this period.

Other speakers at the seminar suggested that community leaders and the media should be taken on board to raise more awareness about HIV/AIDs infections in people.

They hoped that better education on HIV/AIDS will help remove the stigma and misperceptions associated with the disease.

With regards to the work being done globally to control HIV/AIDS compared to what was being done in Pakistan, they said that disposable syringes have been banned across the world but many hospitals in Pakistan continue to use them because they are cheaper. They called for a complete ban on their use.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2020.