Pakistan

Combating HIV/AIDS: Religious, law ministry to be consulted on bill

Decision taken as a ‘precaution’ due to ‘sensitive nature’ of issue.

Our Correspondent January 23, 2015

quot how would it be possible for a couple to make their personal matters public quot nhsrc minister saira afzal tarar stock image

"How would it be possible for a couple to make their personal matters public," NHSRC Minister Saira Afzal Tarar. STOCK IMAGE

ISLAMABAD: The first ever draft of the HIV/AIDS bill for the capital will be shared with the Ministry of Religious Affairs as a ‘precaution’ due to the ‘sensitive’ nature of the issue.

Members of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) on Thursday referred the draft HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Bill for the capital to the health ministry for further review and asked them to consult the religious ministry.

The draft bill was tabled before the panel by Dr Azra Afzal Pechuho to be approved after detailed review. The panel was of the view that HIV and AIDS was a sensitive topic and it was difficult to talk openly about it due to the stigma attached to the disease.

“There are a few clauses in the draft bill that need to be discussed with religious scholars so after the passage of the bill they may not have any objection to it,” said a member of the parliamentary committee.

NHSRC Minister Saira Afzal Tarar endorsed the concerns of the panel and said there were a few clauses in the bill which would not be easily implemented in an Islamic state such as Pakistan.

Sharing details, she said that one of the clauses said that it shall be compulsory for the couple to attach their HIV/AIDS test reports with the marriage certificate.

“How would it be possible for a couple to make their personal matters public,” Tarar said.

She added that even unmarried individuals found it difficult to disclose if they were HIV positive due to which Pakistan lacked accurate data on the total number of people living with the disease.

Tarar further informed the parliamentary body that once the bill got passed, counters would be established at all international airports where people would be tested for HIV/AIDS and those found involved in the spread of the disease would be dealt with accordingly.

Later, the NA panel expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the parliamentary sub-committees and agreed to dissolve them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2015.