January 19, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 18, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 18: Physicians, nurses and other health care providers need to have improved understanding and updated knowledge about HIV/AIDS and its management enabling local patients to have a quality life.

Dr Shehla Baqi, Infectious Diseases Specialist In charge HIV/AIDS Division, University of California, Los Angeles, suggested following her presentation on “Opportunistic infections in the HIV/AIDS patients” at the Dow University of Health University on Tuesday.

“Though incurable, the disease is treatable through appropriate and careful administration of relevant drugs, with almost no contra-indications”, the speaker told APP.

She said that in regional context, the most important aspect was easy and cost-effective availability of relevant medication, termed Anti-Retro Viral Drugs.

She said ARV drugs improved immune function of the infected person to such an extent that he could lead an essentially normal life. But in the same breath, she said that the most important aspect remained strict adherence to medication regimen and its lifelong continuity under proper medical supervision.

On behalf of DUHS vice-chancellor, Dr Sharaf Ali presented a shield to the speaker. — APP