$200 million WHO funded HIV/AIDS control programme launched

The Federal government has launched a WHO-funded HIV/AIDS Control Programme with an initial capital of $200 million to treat almost 400 Aids patient.
The Ministry of Health has okayed setting up about 5 Aids control excellence centres in the Federal Capital, Sindh, Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan where free of cost therapy and treatment facilities would be provided to the HIV patients.
The Federal Minister for Health, Mohammad Nasir Khan formally launched the pilot project during a press conference here on Friday.
He was flanked by Khalif Bille Mahmood, Country Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO).
Briefing about the 3 by 5 initiative for the management of people having with HIV/AIDS, Nasir Khan said that decision to this effect was taken in line with the government's commitment as signatory to goals set under the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS and Millennium Development Summit.
Core principles of the initiative included urgency, equity and sustainability, he said.
The Minister said that a group of five doctors would be sent abroad for training in the use of latest techniques for AIDS treatment while nursing/paramedics staff to be imparted training within the treatment centres.
In response to a question, Nasir Khan said that although the government would provide free of cost facilities to Aids patients, the ministry has also reduced the treatment cost significantly from $1500 to $500 per patient.
He said that a National Policy for use of Anti Retroviral therapy under the Enhanced HIV/AIDS Control Programme would be developed with the WHO support through participatory and consultative process.
Responding to a question, Health Minster said that Aids drugs are being acquired through grants, which would be made available to people infected with HIV through five treatment centres.
Nasir Khan said that Ministry of Health has also planned to set up 16 more excellence centres in all the big cities under this initiative during next two years.
Confidentiality and privacy of HIV-infected patients would be ensured at these curing centres, he said.
Replying to another question, Nasir Khan said Blood Transfusion and Safety draft was approved by the Federal Cabinet, which will be tabled in the Parliament soon.
Speaking at the occasion, WHO representative to Pakistan Dr Khalif Bille Mahmood said that around 34-36 million patients are suffering from HIV/Aids while 400, 000 people would be given proper treatment under this initiative in poor African countries.