ISLAMABAD: Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Monday called for more focus on preventive healthcare and effective public awareness campaigns to curb the spread of HIV/Aids across the country.
He was chairing a meeting of the Joint Working Group on HIV/Aids prevention and control.
Retired Maj Gen Azhar Mahmood Kayani, head of the CommonManagement Unit, provincial health secretaries and representatives, as well as officials of healthcare commissions from all four provinces, attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the current HIV situation in the country, implementation of the national programme and mechanisms for monitoring its progress. It also examined progress on recommendations approved by the Prime Minister’s Task Force on HIV/Aids.
Representatives of the Punjab and Sindh Healthcare Commissions briefed the meeting on the measures being taken and progress made in preventing and controlling HIV/Aids in their respective provinces.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also briefed the forum on its HIV/Aids awareness campaign and efforts to improve public understanding of prevention and treatment.
Mustafa Kamal said treatment alone would not be sufficient to eliminate HIV/ Aids and stressed the need to give special attention to preventive healthcare and effective awareness initiatives. He said people could obtain information about HIV treatment and other necessary services by calling the National Health Protection Helpline at 1166.
The minister directed that in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, infection prevention and control as well as measures against quackery, be incorporated into the curriculum.
He also stressed the need for effective coordination among law-enforcement agencies and relevant departments to prevent the spread of HIV.
‘We are taking practical steps to ensure implementation of the recommendations and proposals of the task force, Mustafa Kamal said, adding that all possible measures were being taken to strengthen efforts aimed at eliminating HIV/Aids.
Retired Maj Gen Kayani directed all healthcare commissions to ensure an effective system of field inspections and monitoring. He also called upon the commissions to ensure action against violations and implementation of decisions taken to help eliminate HIV/Aids.