ISLAMABAD, Feb 20: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a grant of $2.7 million for HIV/Aids prevention programme in Pakistan.

The three-year HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project will support the government of Pakistan’s goal of maintaining the currently low HIV prevalence rate through provision of effective prevention and care activities for at-risk populations in the country.

Through this programme and others like it, the government and citizens of the United States, like former president Bill Clinton, are further demonstrating their commitment to leading the fight against HIV/Aids worldwide.

Pakistan is considered to be a low-prevalence but high-risk country for HIV/Aids. The main focus of the new USAID-funded activity will be on preventing the spread of HIV/Aids by increasing public awareness of how it is spread and on measures that can be taken to stop its spread.

The project will increase the technical, managerial and financial capacities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community organizations, networks, and other institutions serving high-risk groups. Besides prevention, this activity will develop model care interventions for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Activities will be started in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and the NWFP through NGOs with support from local communities. The project aims at reaching more than 60,000 people every year. Support will also be provided to the Ministry of Health’s National and Provincial AIDS Control Programmes to build technical capacity.

Meanwhile, the US Combined Medical Relief Team 3 (CMRT 3) has donated 900 bottles of paediatric medicines and more than 300 pounds of construction material to the local relief camp clinic.

“This is extremely gracious of the US Marines,” Dr Ali Jadoon, chief medical coordinator for Daryal Clinic, said.

“Not only did they give a significant amount of medicine, but also provided the basic infrastructure for our clinics and pharmacy like chairs, desks and tables,” he said.

The donated medicines will be used to treat illnesses like flu, fever, asthma and common cold. The construction material is also important for the success of the clinic.

With relief efforts segueing into long-term reconstruction, 200 marines and sailors of CMRT 3 are preparing for their return to III Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa, Japan.

Mr Jadoon said: “It will not only serve the patients of Daryal Clinic, but also put smiles back on people’s faces.”

The United States has pledged a total of $510 million in earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts to assist people of Pakistan and support Pakistani government efforts.