The United States Government and USAID place a high priority on supporting people living with HIV and AIDS and on preventing further spread of this virus.
USAID funding has helped get important preventive messages to 120,000 people at risk for getting HIV and through New Light has helped 72 HIV positive individuals and their 1300 family members to obtain care including home based services.
Through USAID alone, the United States is providing more than $1.5 billion in development assistance to Pakistan over the next five years. USAID's programme includes health, education, economic growth and governance.
Work in HIV/AIDS is an important USAID health initiative but USAID also funds programme in mother and new-born health, reproductive health, polio prevention and TB control. As many as 20 people living with HIV and AIDS learned how to better help themselves and their families in a three day course on Positive Living conducted by the New Light AIDS Control Society.
Course participants gained knowledge about HIV/AIDS, learned more about safeguarding their health and added skills on coping with the discrimination they often face in daily life.
US Ambassador to Pakistan Rayon C. Crocker, Principal Officer, US Consulate Brain Heath, Programme Management Specialist, US Agency for International Development, Pakistan Dr Qadeer Ahsan, joined Nazir Masih, the chief executive of New Light in presenting certificates and offering congratulations. Yasmeen Rahman, MNA and Dr Ali Razzaq, Provincial Manager, Punjab AIDS Control Programme also participated in the event.
Crocker praised the work of New Light in advocating for better care and treatment for people living with HIV and AIDS and encouraged HIV positive New Light Society members to continue their self-help efforts. New Light receives substantial support from USAID to provide regular medical treatment, nutritional and educational assistance, home care and training in Positive Living.