19 September 2004	Sunday	03 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: A high percentage of youth, large internal migration, poverty, gender inequalities, low literacy and low spending on health and education by the government are some of the challenges Pakistan is confronted with to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading.

This was the understanding reached during a National Media Seminar on HIV/AIDS organized by the Pakistan Press Syndicate in collaboration with the National Aids Control Programme here at a local hotel on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro said HIV/AIDS virus could not be taken care of without changing social habits and taking measures to prevent the disease having far-reaching consequences.

"HIV/AIDS leads to the destruction of the immune system of the body so much that our body becomes unable to resist infections which the healthy body could cope within normal circumstances," he said.

He stressed to wage a struggle for creating awareness about the seriousness of the disease with a view to informing people of its dangerous effects.

Media can play a key role in preventing, arresting and controlling HIV/AIDS, he said, adding that the use of only screened blood would help achieve optimum results.

Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan said the presence of risky behaviour, socio-economic vulnerabilities like poverty and illiteracy, lack of effective use of resources highlighted the need to act aggressively if "we were to limit the spread of infection in Pakistan".

"We must act on two levels simultaneously at the level of individuals to increase knowledge and skills and encourage safe personal behaviour," he said.

Turning the tide on AIDS would require much greater commitment of time, energy and resources, he said.

He assured the audience that the government of Pakistan was determined to accelerate the response to the epidemic and implement by turning into action, the commitments made at the UNGASS, the Saarc heads of state conference and millennium.

Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS has also been made part of the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper by the government.

He asked the media to act responsibly and break the silence surrounding the disease in a manner which reduced or nullified the fears and misconceptions of the people.

Our common aim must be to reduce stigma and discrimination, induce hope and lay greater emphasis on human development and attainment of basic human rights.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli dwelt at length on the role of electronic and print media in the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Senator Nisar Memon said globally 42 million people were infected with this disease and urged the government to secure country's borders to help prevent the disease. He said Pakistan Muslim League having direct contact with the people at the grass- root level could be helpful in carrying forward the message of prevention from the disease.

Senator Abdullah Riar stressed the need of discussing about the virus with an open mind and through intelligent discourse.