Experts, while unanimously underlining the need of evolving a comprehensive strategy to protect youth from HIV/AIDS have suggested for well-co-ordinated multi sectorial efforts to achieve the desired results.
This was the out come of a high level meeting held with Provincial Secretary for Health, Abdus Samad Khan, in the chair at the Committee Room of Health Secretariat, Peshawar.
Manager Provincial AIDS Control Programme, Dr Muhammad Zafar, Bettina Schunter UNICEF, members of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and UNICEF Joint Mission to NWFP, WHO Programme Officer for HIV/AIDS, representatives of, Education, Social welfare and P&D Departments participated.
Debating over various issues pertaining to enhancing awareness level of youth, the meeting deliberated on low enrolment of children in schools and their high rate of drop out also. Urging the need of chalking out a comprehensive policy for boosting up literacy rate, the experts termed parental role and institutional accountability as indispensable.
Similarly steps for increasing children enrolment in schools and formulation of a strategy to sensitise youth about AIDS, in conformity with the cultural values were also discussed.
Briefing the joint mission about the strategy adopted by the government to prevent AIDS, Provincial Secretary for Health Abdus Samad Khan said that efforts for creating awareness among general population and vulnerable groups were underway with the collaboration of donor agencies in the province.
He opined that provision of free textbooks to the school students would help a lot in increasing literacy rate as well as minimising drop out ratio in the province. The secretary health cautioned that it was right time to pursuit the issue of AIDS to control it effectively.
Dr Muhammad Zafar, Manager AIDS Control Programme NWFP, while informing the mission said that all risk factors of AIDS existed in the province though the reported cases were 459. He suggested for co-ordinated efforts, involving both public, private sector and donors to address youth issue properly.
Dr Zafar also floated the idea of inter-schools literary and sports competitions for creating awareness among youth to combat AIDS and other diseases effectively. The mission was informed that in the light of World Bank observations, social indicators had improved in the province.
"Islam provides a self controlled mechanism to prevent dangerous diseases and religious leaders can play a vital role in this connection", the mission was briefed.
More over the mission was assured of technical support in devising strategy to prevent youth from HIV/AIDS.
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