PESHAWAR, Aug 3: A documentary depicting the ordeal of HIV/Aids patients was screened by a group of PTV artistes in collaboration with the UNICEF aiming to send a message to the masses that the stigma associated with the disease was unfounded and patients suffering from the disease needed love and affection.

“The people should not discard the patients but help them. Social stigmatisation of the patients is more harmful to them as well as their near and dear ones,” said PTV actor Arshad Hussain, the person behind the production of the documentary on the prevalence of HIV/Aids in the NWFP and Fata.

Recorded in Abbottabad, Peshawar, Kurram and Khyber agencies, it draws a bleak scenario regarding the patients living in a conservative society which regards those suffering from HIV/Aids as sinners.

“There is an immediate need to stop hating HIV/Aids patients because it does not spread through handshakes, sharing meals, or using the same bathroom,” Mr Arshad said, adding that its mode of communication included transfusion of unscreened blood, use of unsterile and infected syringes and illicit and unsafe sex.

He said there was an urgent need to develop a link between donor agencies, government and civil society organisations to raise the level of awareness about Aids.

The documentary, which has been directed by Fahmeed Khan, urges people to extend a helping hand to the infected people.

A local health worker also tries to prevail upon the people to respect Aids patients because if they did not do so it would cause more harm to the patients as well as the society.

He also gave some tips regarding precautionary measures to be taken against the disease.

So does a local cleric who says that patients needed love and affection instead of hate.