PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa merged areas directorate of health on Monday organised a walk to create awareness about HIV/Aids in connection with World Aids Day.

A statement issued here said that the director health services for merged areas, Dr Shah Faisal Khanzada, Aids Control Programme Manager Dr Durkhany Wali and other officers participated in the walk.

Dr Shah Faisal Khanzada said on the occasion that Aids was a fatal disease but it was curable if diagnosed timely. He asked politicians, tribal elders and social workers to play their role in creating awareness among people about the disease and help to strengthen the Aids Control Programme.

He said that Aids Control Programme conducted free screening camps in different parts of merged areas and provided free treatment to the people of the areas. He appreciated the programme activities and directed the officials concerned to create awareness among tribal people regarding the preventive measures.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Durkhany Wali said that till April 2019, around 738 HIV positive patients were registered. “They are getting free of cost tests, treatment and medicines,” she added.

She said that to control disease, they had established three Aids control centres in South Waziristan, Kurram and Bajaur tribal districts and nominated a medicine specialist from each district as a focal person for Aids. “Now they are able to deal with these patients in their own areas,” she added.

Dr Durkhanay said requested the people of tribal districts as well other areas to get HIV tests done free of cost at the nearest centre for prevention of the disease.

Regarding the break up number of patients in tribal districts, she said that till April 2019, around 738 registered patients included 190 in North Waziristan, 148 in Kurram, 130 in Khyber, 113in South Waziristan, 62 in Mohmand, 61 in Bajaur and 34 in Orakzai tribal district.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2019