Pakistan like the rest of the world is marking the 'World AIDS Day-2016' on Thursday (today) with a resolve to raise awareness about AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Pakistan is a low prevalence but high-risk country due to increased levels of poverty, illiteracy, low spending on health and education, large number of internal and external migrants, a high proportion of adolescents and young adults.
To mark the day, different health organisations are holding events. "We need to clarify the fact that hepatitis, especially B and C share similar modes of transmission as HIV/AIDS. If hepatitis has emerged as a major health problem, it should alert us that HIV also can reach devastating proportions, health professionals said, adding: "Like HIV, hepatitis B and C are also sexually transmitted infections. If we are able to prevent STI transmission by one effort, we will be preventing other communicable infectious diseases in the country."