June 09, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 23, 1428

ISLAMABAD, June 8: A declaration of partnership was signed on Friday to work with uniformed personnel in the country to respond to the challenges posed by HIV/Aids.

Speaking at a press conference, Federal Minister for Health Nasir Khan said the interventions would mainly focus on building the capacity of the Pakistani armed forces, Anti-Narcotics Force and the police to deal with the threat of HIV/Aids.

The declaration was signed among the ministries of health, defence, narcotics control and interior, and the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), a co-sponsor agency of UNAIDS, will execute the project worth $170,000, while UNAIDS, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and National Aids Control Programme (NACP) will provide technical assistance for the project.

Nasir Khan said the objective of this declaration was to show the commitment of the partners like the Pakistani government and the United Nations to working together.

He said Pakistan Army was a major contributor to the UN peacekeeping personnel, which were mostly deployed in areas where HIV/Aids was highly endemic.

According to him, under this partnership, additional funds will be mobilised for the capacity building of the police force or any other similar project for uniformed personnel.

He said prevention and early detection was the key to address the issue, adding that strategies would be planned to enhance the capacity of armed personnel with a focus on creating awareness regarding HIV/Aids among them.

The minister said similar declarations had been signed by 16 countries around the world, while initiatives to work with uniformed personnel had been launched in 80 countries worldwide.

UNAIDS Country Director Dr Aldo Landi appreciated the role of the Pakistani government for creating awareness among masses regarding HIV/Aids.

Under the UN Security Council Resolution 1308 adopted on July 17, 2000, and the UN General Assembly resolution entitled “Declaration of Commitment on HIV and Aids” adopted in June 2001, the UN member states including Pakistan showed concern at the potential damaging impact of HIV/Aids on the health of international peacekeeping personnel.

The members countries also decided to develop strategies to address spread of HIV among international peacekeeping as will as other national uniformed personnel.

Besides Secretary Health Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, the representatives of the ministries of defence, narcotics control, Pakistan Army and NACP also spoke on the occasion.—APP