LAHORE, April 21: The Punjab AIDS Control Programme, Catholic Relief Services and the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre have signed a memorandum of understanding to join hands for making the lives of AIDS patients better.

This was stated by CRS’ Dr Amer Raza at a seminar on provision of diagnostic and treatment facilities to HIV/AIDS patients in Pakistan, jointly organised by CRS, PACP and SKMCH&RC at the hospital.

He said the objectives of the MoU that included assurance of quality life to the AIDS patients would be achieved within three days. He said the SKMCH&RC was working as a role-model to provide all facilities to cancer patients and would now maintain its standards in treating the HIV patients.

Dr Raza stressed the government, private sector, NGOs and people in general must cooperate with one another for the treatment of AIDS patients and removing the stigma. He also said the CRS had donated a special AIDS testing equipment to the SKMCH&RC. The equipment was inaugurated by Faryal Gohar.

PACP director Dr Ali Razaque said the government was working to provide maximum treatment facilities to the AIDS victims. Besides the government efforts, he said, the CRS would provide medicines and other services while the SKMCH&RC would screen, store and dispense medicines.

He said a unit at Mayo Hospital had already been dedicated for the admission of HIV/AIDS patients, where ARV medicines would be provided to the patients free of cost. He said the hospital’s HIV/AIDS unit would also be linked with the SKMCH&RC.

Acknowledging the availability of infectious diseases’ consultants at the SKMCH&RC, Dr Razaque said the PACP would seek their expertise for the benefit of AIDS patients.

CRS’ country representative in Pakistan Mr Norman said the service was operating in 90 countries for the welfare of humanity. He said the CRS had now started helping HIV and AIDS patients in Pakistan.