KARACHI, Dec 5: The Country Director for UNAIDS – Pakistan, Aldo Landi, expressing his reservations about the reported figure of 3,000 plus HIV/AIDS cases in the country, has called for a realistic approach to identify the exact numbers and measures to handle the situation.

He was speaking at a candle-lighting session organized by the Sindh AIDS Control Programme, in the memory of those who died of the disease across the globe during the last many years.

Mr Landi, who is also a technical expert, representing the UN in the region, observed that the people in Pakistan in general and policy makers as well as health care professionals in particular must not be complacent.

Elaborating his stance, he said there was every possibility that the number of cases might have been under-reported in the face of a constant surge in the number of people categorised amongst high risk groups.

The country has a considerably high number of addicts, who are increasingly witnessed to use syringes, sharing them, and maintaining active relationship with their spouses, which enhanced every possibility that the actual HIV prevalence might be much higher, he elaborated.

Maintaining that the prevalence of the virus was not merely a public health issue, but also a serious socio-economic condition, he mentioned that 60 per cent of the addicts were jobless.

The given situation enhanced the urgency for close and collaborative efforts by the health, education, women development and poverty eradication departments, and local governments, along with professional bodies and the Pakistan Medical Association, Mr Landi suggested.

“We are at the crossroads in Pakistan. We can contain the ailment; let us do it together,” he said.

Urging the significance of genuine efforts to combat the ailment rather than mere rhetoric, the UNAIDS representative referred to the measures adopted by the Pakistani government to address the issue including its pledge with the Global Fund to provide retro-viral drugs for patients in need.

“The responsibility cannot, however, be taken by the government alone and communities will have to play their role,” he commented.

He also referred to measures adopted by the UN, adding that $8 billion had been allocated by the organization for HIV/AIDS victims across the globe compared to $ 300 million in the previous decade.

Ms France Donney, Global Representative of the UNFPA attempted to draw attention towards the vulnerability of women and children.

She highlighted the significance of reproductive health rights and easy accessibility of all segments of society to quality reproductive health facilities.

Sindh Health Secretary Prof Naushad Shaikh reaffirmed the government’s commitment towards the cause of safe and healthy environments for all people.

He said task forces had already been constituted to monitor rehabilitation and detoxification centres being established in the province besides efforts to keep constant vigil on all high risk groups. NGOs are being efficiently utilized, he said.

Dr Shaheed Hussain Isran, Programme Manager, Enhanced HIV/AIDS Control Programme - Sindh said close government and NGO coordination could be witnessed in the province.

The programme was also addressed by General Secretary, PMA - Karachi Dr Qaiser Sajjad, Shaukat Ali of Sindh NGO Network on HIV/AIDS and Manzoor Ahmed, Additional Health Secretary - Sindh.

Awards were later presented to Prof Abdul Mujib, Dr Sharaf Ali Shah and others for their sincere efforts towards the cause of HIV/AIDS control.—APP