July 06, 2006	Thursday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 9, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, July 5: Country director of UNAIDS Dr Aldo Landi has called for presenting real picture of HIV and AIDS instead of indulging in numbers game and denying the facts.

“Numbers are not important. We should stop playing the numbers game. Its time we come out of denial and face the problem. By restricting ourselves to the limited number of reported cases of HIV or AIDS, we still want to believe we are safe”, Dr Landi said while speaking at the launch of a report produced by Panos South Asia here the other day.

“It is our responsibility as technical people to give our leaders and politicians the real picture. We should stop portraying a rozy picture”, Dr Landi added.

Titled, “Keeping the Promise”, the report is a study of progress made in implementing the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS in Pakistan.

Pakistan needs to convince the donor community to provide grants not to miss the opportunity, Dr Landi said and suggested that the Health Ministry should seek more funding from the donor community. Its extremely difficult to talk but if we don’t voice the problem of vulnerable people it will be very difficult to contain the epidemic.

The report, written by Sarah Javed, has been produced part of a research project and focuses on the progress being made in implementing the UNGASS declaration, explained Sahar Ali Country Representative of Panos Pakistan who was also the coordinator of the project.

Besides Pakistan, the process has also been initiated by Panos in other countries including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti, Latvia, Malawi and Sri Lanka.

Anushree Mishra, Manager Panos Global AIDS Programme (GAP) deliberated upon the GAP and United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) declaration of commitment’s monitoring in South Asia.

Aanushree, who also guided the project had specially come from Thailand to attend the report launch.

A heated discussion between civil society, government, media and people living with HIV and AIDS followed the launch.

Nazir Masih of New Light AIDS Control Society raised the issue of non-availability of ARV to the growing number of PLWHA.

He questioned the government on the accountability of funds allocated for the purpose and expressed concern over the issue of stigma and care and support.

He said PLWHA should not be sidelined, but be involved in all policy matters related to HIV or AIDS.

Raja Khalid Mehmood of Pakistan National AIDS Consortium stressed the need for a united and not segregated, civil society to work together to respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

Tasneem Ahmar, Director Uks Resource Centre spoke about media constraints and the minimal coverage given to the issue by the media, around the UNGASS meeting.

She criticized the awareness campaigns running on the print and electronic media and said, “the ads campaigns running on television are absolutely ambiguous and confusing and make no sense”.

Qamarul Islam Siddiqui, National BCC Coordinator, NACP responded to the various queries and gave the government’s perspective for meeting the targets.

A documentary film, Kya Hum Vaada Nibha Rahe Hain (Are We Keeping the Promise?), produced by Panos South Asia, was screened on the occasion. The film was greatly appreciated by the audience. The 20-minute film packaged the desired information to the viewers in a light entertaining way with excellent production quality.

Besides accessing the current HIV scenario in the country, the film comprised interviews of government officials, medical doctors and those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. Even though not disclosing the identity of some, it gave voice to the issue of stigma faced by people living with HIV or AIDS.