LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Dec 1: The Fata Health Directorate on Thursday launched the first HIV/Aids Control and Awareness Programme in the seven tribal agencies. The objectives of the three-year programme were explained by its manager Dr Iftekhar Ali at a function held in Jamrud in connection with the World Aids Day. A number of tribal elders, Maliks, councillors and officials of the political administration attended the function.

Dr Iftekhar said that as part of the programme, a computer operator and a laboratory assistant had been deputed in each Agency Headquarters Hospitals where a master trainer doctor would train other doctors.

He said that the Fata health directorate would soon provide HIV diagnostic Kit to the laboratory assistants. He said that HIV-detection training had also been imparted to two laboratory technicians from every agency at the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar.

Under the programme, 14 doctors from seven tribal agencies were given training about monitoring and evaluation of the disease in tribal areas where 110 HIV-positive cases, mostly males had so far been reported.

The number, he said, was only a tip of iceberg.