Prevention of HIV/AIDS: need to create awareness among vulnerable people underlined

Speakers at a seminar on "Role of Media in HIV Prevention" underlined the need of creating awareness among people vulnerable to HIV/AIDS for prevention of the fatal disease and keeping the society clean from various other social ills.
They said that the migrant workers and injecting drug addicts are the main reason of spread of HIV/AIDS in society. The workshop was organised by Organisation for Social Development under Pakistan HIV AIDS Prevention and Care Project (PHAPCP), which was attended by representatives of both print and electronic media besides the officials of different NGOs working on HIV/AIDS prevention.
Asim Shahzad, Manager Training of the OSD PHAPCP briefed the participants about the present situation of HIV/AIDS in country. He sought the active role of the media in creating awareness among people, who are vulnerable to the fatal infection, besides other people of the society.
Injecting drug addicts are a big cause of spread of HIV/AIDS, as so many addicts use one syringe to inject, the speakers said adding that dedicated efforts to stop spread of HIV/AIDS were needed and government should realise the gravity of situation and took measures for rehabilitation of drug addicts.
"The figure of heroin addicts using injection is 60,000 out of total 0.5 million heroin addicts. Many addicts are using one syringe to inject drug, which is main cause of spread of the disease among them", they said.
During a survey in Turbat 23 out of total 150 tested were HIV positive, who were going to brothels for sex, which means they are multiplying this disease besides giving it to their own families.
Most of the HIV positive were migrant workers. Sex workers are also a source of spread and it is imperative to give them complete awareness. Participants of the workshop were of the view that AIDS is an incurable disease, transmitted through sex, infected blood, contaminated syringes and from mother to child. Life according to Islamic teachings would help remain away from this disease.
Asif Khushi said that OSD tested more than 3000 people in Rawalpindi out of them 3 persons were found HIV positive. He said that the efforts of NGOs to fight this disease are not enough and government should set HIV testing and counselling centers in all public sector hospitals.