ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: A UN agency has prepared a comprehensive HIV/Aids awareness programme to help Pakistan protect its troops, particularly those sent on peace-keeping missions abroad and an elite anti-narcotics force, from the deadly disease.
A UN official confirmed that the Pakistan chapter of the United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) had prepared the one-year plan with the approval of ministries of defence, interior and foreign affairs, and said that funds were being awaited for its launch in January.
ISPR Director-General Major-General Shaukat Sultan said that the UN would be responsible for peace-keeping missions while the armed forces themselves were well aware of their responsibilities for the rest of the troops.
The plan’s document said the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) would be the executing agency for what would be called “Scaling up HIV prevention in the Pakistan uniformed personnel” to be implemented by the agencies of the ministries concerned.It said the plan’s objective was to strengthen the capacity of uniformed personnel of the armed forces and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) “to respond to HIV and Aids challenges”.
Its immediate aims include assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices among armed forces personnel, undertaking a sensitisation orientation programme for policy and decision-makers, organising training and orientation for the army’s medical staff on different aspects of HIV and Aids, and conducting a final evaluation to measure the project’s outcome and report back to the government.
To provide necessary knowledge about HIV and Aids, 500,000 booklets would be arranged in English, national and regional languages, in addition to the awareness cards.
The document says that Pakistani military personnel also frequently visit abroad on courses and emergency missions while there could also be chances of indigenous acquisition of HIV.
It points out that more than 1,600-strong ANF staff, particularly those working in the field, were constantly exposed to health risks in their operations throughout the country and assignments among addicts many of whom were HIV/Aids patients.
Distribution of HIV kits containing condoms and HIV-related pamphlets through garrison medical centres would be considered if the budget was made available, the document says. Those already infected would be offered assistance in arranging antiretroviral drugs.
UNAIDS National Programme senior officer Dr Samia Hashim said that armed forces training centres would be the main focus of the plan to create awareness at the outset of the professional lives of troops. But, she said, special sessions would be conducted for troops leaving for UN peace-keeping missions.
