KARACHI, May 18: Sindh Minister for Women Development Dr. Saida Malik has reiterated strong political commitment on the part of the government to combat the challenge of HIV/Aids in the country at varied levels, focussing female sex workers (FSWS), jail inmates and injecting drug users (IDUS). Speaking at a seminar on Public Awareness on HIV/Aids, organized by the Sindh Red Crescent Society here on Wednesday, to mark the World Red Cross/Crescent Day, she said keeping in view the vulnerability of the above cited segments of the society to the dreadful disease, two service delivery packages have been contracted out, one each for FSWS and jail inmates in six prisons of Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur respectively.
The packages being contracted out with the support of World Bank were further said to be aimed at preventing spread of the dreadful virus among the target groups themselves and from them to other sections of the society.
The contract for Service Delivery Package for IDUs, the Minister said, was at the final stages of approval. However, harm reduction services are being already provided to IDUS with the support of DFID.
Dr Saida Malik also mentioned that the Enhanced HIV/Aids Control Programme has established 25 voluntary counselling and testing centres in district headquarters and tertiary level hospitals, adding that because of better surveillance facilities and screening of blood products, a number of HI/Aids cases have been detected.
She also reminded with tinge of pride that Sindh is the first province to pass the law for compulsory screening of blood products and formation of blood Transfusion Authority.
Dr. Saida Malik said that Sindh Aids Control Programme has made interventions to increase prevalence of safe behavior and improved availability of sexual transmitted infection services among vulnerable population by peer education programme, promotion of relevant safe strategies, treatment of sexually transmitted infections to decrease their vulnerability for HIV/Aids.
The minister underscored the need for advocacy and behavior change activities among the general population with focus on youth, labour and police personnel for creating an enabling environment for the increased involvement of a wide range of stakeholders for HIV prevention.
Ms. Shamim Kazmi, Vice Chairman, Sindh Red Crescent Society also spoke.—APP