HIV/AIDS needs to be factored into the development planning to avoid high number of AIDS cases. Dr Danayath Jayasuriya, UNAIDS Country Co-ordinator stated this here on Thursday during a seminar on 'Multisectorial Aspects of HIV/AIDS.
Federal and provincial Planning Commission staff, Javaid Sadiq Malik, Secretary Planning Commission and Onder Yucer, UN Resident Co-ordinator attended the seminar.
He informed the participants about the emerging threat of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan and stated that a non-judgemental rights based approach to the issue is needed in Pakistan if we are to prevent the risk of high prevalence.
There are several factors, which could increase the incidents of the virus in Pakistan, and these include low levels of literacy, lack of women empowerment, absence of safety measures and growing number of intravenous drug users, Danayath added.
There is a need for an enabling environment to tackle the epidemic and this would include the adoption of the development model for HIV/AIDS prevention, he said adding this would include a multisectoral and integrated approach to the problem, which needs the active involvement of the stakeholders.
Onder Yucer, UNDP Resident Co-ordinator, said that the UNAIDS, co-sponsored by UNDP, UNICEF, ILO, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNDCP, World Bank, WHO and WFP, is working with the government to promote advocacy and provide strategic information on the issue.
He stressed the need for further involvement of civil society and urged the Planning Commission officials to integrate HIV/AIDS aspects in their development planning.
Onder Yucer said that in the absence of a preventive vaccine or a curative drug, education and other preventive measures remain the most potent weapons to fight HIV/AIDS.
With the HIV epidemic spreading to this part of the world from the late 1980s, migrant workers have become possibly more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, he said.
UNDP Representative said, "Migration in search of employment and better prospects will continue to increase in this part of the world in the absence of significant economic growth rates, political stability and improvements in the quality of life at the micro-level."
Secretary Planning Javaid Sadiq Malik said that HIV/AIDS is an increasing concern and the federal and provincial planning commissions should develop a stronger collaborative effort to prevent and control the virus. He added, "Pakistan is at dangerous crossroads as the potential for rapid escalation in the number of HIV/AIDS cases is high. The virus can cripple gains made in economic development as it impedes the productive capacity of people."
Javaid Malik added that some countries have gone from low to very high prevalence in only five years.
He cited sub-Saharan Africa as an example.
Addressing the needs of migrants requires the co-ordinated efforts of ministries such as labour, education, health, social welfare, agriculture, commerce, immigration and emigration and so on.
Vulnerability of the migrants to HIV therefore becomes an issue of concern not to just one ministry or department but to several agencies.