ISLAMABAD, Feb 10: The government intends to conduct a study to ascertain whether the high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in Pakistan has any link with AIDS as seen in some other countries, Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan said on Monday.

He was speaking at a press conference after returning from a two-day South Asia High-Level Conference on HIV/AIDS in Nepal on Monday.

The national manager, National AIDS Control Programme, Dr Asma Bokhari, and a delegate, Samita Wilson, also spoke on the occasion.

He said: “This has to be taken seriously as there exists a huge connection between TB and HIV/AIDS. Therefore, we will launch a study to check this connection in our country. We want to confront it and not run away from it.”

Mr Khan told reporters that different ministries, including education, population and social welfare, information and labour, would work together against the menace of HIV/AIDS. The idea will be floated in the next cabinet meeting for final approval, he added.

The minister cited the example of Thailand where despite spending billion of dollars, 30,000 people died of AIDS.

Dr Asma Bokhari said 47 centres for free blood-testing facility were available in the country, besides all public-sector blood testing centres would screen Hepatitis C virus in addition to Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS.

She said global fund for AIDS had also approved Pakistan’s treatment proposal under which $4.2 million grant money would be provided for creating awareness about the devastation caused by AIDS, establishing 16 voluntary counselling and testing centres, regulating private blood banks and providing free treatment to people living with this virus.

She said to fight HIV/AIDS, Pakistan had developed an enhanced prevention programme and the government was striving towards meeting goals and targets committed at the international forums.

The Unicef representative in Pakistan, Ibrahim Jabr, said though Pakistan was a low prevalence country, the problem would worsen if “we failed to act now”.