ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: The education ministry will make efforts to impart education and create awareness among youth on health issues, including blood transfusion.

This was stated by the federal health minister, Zubaida Jalal, while speaking at a launching ceremony of Society for Awareness of Blood Safety, which was organized by Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) here on Monday.

She said ministries of health and education should work jointly to ensure blood safety. Motivational and educational programmes should be initiated at secondary school level so that youth are knowledgeable about voluntary non-remunerated blood donation and prevention of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, she added.

“Today Pakistan is facing an enormous challenge of preventing the spread of transfusion-transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, and to save people from unimaginable human suffering,” she said. The government has taken several steps for making blood transfusion services as safe as possible, she added.

“Therefore, through education, our ministry is committed to empowerment of youth with information that will assist them in leading a safe and healthy life.”

Commending the PRCS’s awareness programme, Zubaida Jalal said public and private sector cooperation in health education was a must to achieve the set goals. “It shows what can be achieved by a group of sincere and educated workers with very few resources,” she said.

The health minister said the government and other stakeholders must unequivocally support fight against HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C. Prevention through awareness and education is the only way which is cost effective, she added.—APP