KARACHI, July 27: The functional bifurcation of the Sindh health department is basically aimed at facilitating prevention of diseases in addition to providing quality health care to the masses.

This was stated by Sindh Health Secretary Mumtazur Rehman while speaking at a meeting organised by UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids, here on Friday to introduce its newly established provincial office in Sindh.

He said that HIV/Aids itself being a deadly disease also enhanced the possibility of further aggravating chances of tuberculosis and other health conditions.

The official stressed the need for concerted efforts to counter the ailment, its contributory factors as well as consequences by creating awareness among the masses.

With regard to high-risk groups, he said they needed to be particularly helped not only to modify their lifestyles but also motivated to undergo necessary medical assessments preventing chances for the further spread of infections.

Speaking on the occasion, the chairman of the parliamentary forum on HIV/Aids-Sindh, MPA Talib Imam, said that there was a need to procure exact prevalence rate of HIV/ Aids through different sources.

Mr Imam maintained that members of all the provincial assemblies and the National Assembly should transcend their respective political affiliations to address the situation.

“It is through our efforts in collaboration with other sections of society that we have been able to change the public perception towards the disease as well as the infected people,” he said.

The official in charge, UNAIDS -Pakistan, Samia Hashim, said that prevention and treatment of ailments needed to be complemented by effective measures to clarify misconceptions about the disease.

She said that HIV/Aids was not a mere health issue but had its serious financial as well as social implications with a direct bearing on all sections of society hence the UNAIDS would be in constant touch with the relevant departments.

The Resident Coordinator, United Nations office in Islamabad, Dr Asim, the acting provincial manager and others also spoke.

The programme was attended by Special Health Secretary Abdul Majid and provincial secretaries from different departments as well as representatives of different NGOs.—APP