ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The government has provided a set of drugs to different federal government hospitals for free treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) to combat the threat of HIV/AIDS in the country.

"These drugs comprising high quality antibiotics, anti- fungus etc have been provided to the urology and gynaecology departments of different hospitals," Dr Asma Bukhari, in charge, National Aids Control Programme (NACP), told Dawn on Saturday.

The presence of STDs facilitates transmission of HIV infection among the population, she added.

The drugs, which have been supplied to the hospitals, are Ciprofloxacin, 500mg; Trimethoprim, 80mg; Sulfamethozazole, 400mg; Doxycycline, 100mg; Clotrimazole Interavaginal tablets, Ceftriaxone injectable, 250mg; Ceftriaxone injectable, 500mg; Benzathine Pencillin injections and Erythromycine, 500mg.

Earlier, Dr Asma Bukhari said the training programme through syndromic approach was conducted in different hospitals, and now the government intended to repeat the same as part of the enhanced programme for the ongoing training of doctors.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan had also informed a group of reporters on Saturday that the government would soon introduce a programme to train doctors in the management of STDs through syndromic approach.

The programme for advance training of doctors would be conducted in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi and Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore.

One of the main objectives of the enhanced programme, the minister said, was to prevent transmission of STDs among vulnerable as well as general populations.

The government has already allocated a fund of Rs325 million for enhanced HIV/AIDS control programme, of which Rs175 million would be spent under the National AIDS Control Programme being run by the federal government.

Similarly, Rs117.2 million has been granted to the Punjab, Rs58.3 million to Sindh, Rs41.6 million to the NWFP, Rs36.8 million to Balochistan and Rs14.9 million to Azad Kashmir.

The NACP grant comprised components like improved service delivery package for vulnerable groups, improved knowledge and practice of HIV preventive measure and use of high quality STD services by general population and advocacy and behaviour change activities for the general public.

Besides, reducing vulnerability of migrant labour to HIV/AIDS, reaching youth through the education ministry and improved and expanded services for STDs at hospital level were also part of the grant.