ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: The government will introduce self-destructive syringes to discourage needle sharing practices threatening the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan said here on Thursday.

He told reporters that the government would also launch awareness campaign, advocacy strategies and capacity development programmes about the hazards of HIV/AIDS. In this regard, services of different sections of the society, including prayers leaders of the mosques, will be utilized.

At the same time, the victims will be encouraged to come forward so that they can get official assistance for the treatment. “We have to counter this disease in a brave and organized manner,” he observed.

Dr Asma Bokhari, the national programme manager on HIV/AIDS, speaking on the occasion, said till March 31, 2003, there were 2,020 HIV cases in Pakistan, out of which 1,785 were HIV positive and 235 had full blown AIDS. However, she said the estimates were not accurate as we have a poor surveillance system. She conceded that the number of HIV positive cases might be around 80,000.

Only because of syringe-sharing practices, the prevalence of AIDS in India increased from zero to 60 per cent within six months due to which even Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpai had to lead an awareness campaign.

The health minister said in June 2003, 17 drug users in Larkana were reported to the Sindh AIDS Control Programme as being positive for HIV. The Government of Sindh and the health ministry immediately provided drug treatment services through a Lahore-based NGO. In addition to this, national and provincial AIDS control programme, in collaboration with Larkana District management, sensitized the local electronic and print media, which, he deplored, even printed names of the patients with their addresses.

However, the local NGOs provided counselling to the families of the infected persons and, at the same time, initiated rigorous awareness campaign.

The minister said with about 150 million population, the spread of AIDS could be a big problem in future if timely action was not taken. He said the government had conducted studies and was monitoring very discreetly the behaviour of truck drivers, drug users etc., by involving different NGOs.

The minister said seven service delivery packages were being implemented in five cities to discourage irresponsible behaviour. The package will be expanded soon.

Replying to a question, Dr Asma Bokhari said a total of $59 million would come for the AIDS programme — $27 million in loans and the remaining amount in the shape of grants.