Call for efforts to end HIV/AIDS

Minister says govt revising national and provincial AIDS strategies

Speakers at an event held to mark World AIDS Day on Thursday called for greater efforts to overcome the challenges hampering the eradication of HIV/AIDS and urged all stakeholders to increase access to services for HIV treatment, testing and prevention.

The event was organised by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, in collaboration with Common Management Unit for AIDS, TB and Malaria, UNAIDS, WHO, UNDP UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies.

Participants said this year’s theme “Equalise” was a call to action to increase availability, quality of services for HIV treatment, testing and prevention.

Speaking on the occasion Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel said the government was striving to provide HIV prevention and treatment services through high-impact community-based HIV prevention programme despite limited resources.

“We are going to revise national and provincial AIDS strategies, setting the plan of action in the light of global guidance to create an enabling environment to address legislative, socio-cultural, religious and other determinants that can influence HIV prevention efforts,” he said.

The minister said there is a need to initiate a national prevention effort, that includes all available options to stop the transmission of HIV including protection commodities, immediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Mashhood Ahmad, Special Secretary Health, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said community-led responses are proving to be game changers in reducing inequalities and supporting effective and resilient HIV responses.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2022.