November 29, 2007	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 18, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Nov 28: The National Aids Control Programme (NACP) has finalised policy to provide effective treatment, care and support to all the affected people. The vision of the 10-year ‘National HIV and Aids Policy’ is a healthy, prosperous nation that can respond effectively and provide treatment, care and support to all those affected by HIV and Aids.

Under the policy, the HIV, Aids Prevention and Treatment Act, 2007, will be enforced to prevent spread of HIV among the people, particularly in vulnerable segment and to provide care, support and treatment to the affected persons.

The draft act has been sent to the ministry of law for vetting before presenting it to the parliament for approval, Dr Asma Bokhari, National Programme Coordinator of NACP, told Dawn on Wednesday.

Provincial governments have already given their input and consent to the act, she said.

The national response to HIV and Aids will be guided and coordinated by a single, multi-sectoral coordinating body called National HIV and Aids Commission to be headed by the Senate chairman, which will be made up of representatives from national and provincial governments, people living with HIV, civil society and religious groups and the private sector. The provincial governments will be encouraged to establish similar mechanisms.

The policy provides establishment of a coordinating mechanism for HIV and Aids financial assistance under the leadership of the commission. This will ensure that international assistance for the national HIV and Aids response is coordinated and is in line with Pakistan’s established priorities, and that reporting mechanisms are as efficient and streamlined as possible.

The policy seeks the support of religious and civil society leaders to shape up opinion within communities to find ways to reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by individuals and families affected by HIV/Aids. Religious and civil society leaders can also play a vital role in establishing an environment that supports the elimination of HIV transmission. The policy prioritises seven focus areas in a targeted manner with the most at risk populations and vulnerable populations most likely to be exposed to HIV and their partners. These are injecting drug users, people who engage in sexual behaviour that puts them at risk, migrant workers, long distance truck drivers and associated population, jail inmates, sexual partners, spouse and children of the people in these groups and most at risk adolescents.

The primary focus of the HIV prevention effort will be on reducing HIV infection amongst these populations. This will involve a public health approach that seeks to work in partnership with these populations, and that takes care not to further stigmatise them.

Treatment, care and support efforts will focus on connecting all individuals and families affected by HIV and Aids with health care and social support, and on focusing resources on geographical areas most affected by HIV and Aids.

The policy proposes that people with HIV and Aids and those thought to be at the risk of infection will enjoy the same rights that are afforded to all citizens. They will be treated with dignity and respect when they seek health and welfare services to encourage them to maintain contact with these services.

Anti-discrimination laws will be amended to make it illegal to discriminate against people with HIV and Aids or people perceived to be at particular risk of HIV infection.