May 24, 2006	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 23: Pakistan National AIDS Consortium (PNAC) would in collaboration with the National Volunteer Movement (NVM) train volunteers in creating awareness about AIDS in the earthquake affected areas since this disease is spreading with an alarming pace.

This was announced here on Tuesday by a delegation of Pakistan National AIDS at the NVM headquarters.

According to the press release, Director General NVM Khalid Masood Chaudhry briefed the delegation about the achievements of NVM and the projects in hand, in Kodar Bala, district Manshera and Khori, district Muzafarabad.

He said that they welcomed all the genuine NGOs that wanted to contribute with NVM in the earthquake affected areas for the betterment of human lives and their living as they had suffered a great tragedy and were seeking social attention and assistance.

He appreciated the delegation for their initiative and devotion for the great cause to help the humanity in distress.

Malik Aftab, while highlighting his organizations task and targets said that 0.5 million people died in the year 2003 because of this deadly disease, which is increasing every year rapidly. He said that the most disturbing fact was that, this disease was affecting the youth on a very large scale.

By the end of 2004, he said that about 1.3 million children lost either of their parents due to this fast spreading menace. This figure would reach 2.5 million by 2010, he said. He said that in Africa 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the youth population was HIV positive which was drastically affecting their economy.

He declared that according to some international organization 0.8 million people are considered to be HIV positive in India, while in Pakistan the figure has exceeded from 80,000.

He was confident that PNAC along with NVM can contribute in curb this disease by raising awareness through training the volunteers who would participate in the reconstruction and rehabilitation programme in the earthquake affected areas.