Islamabad: Dr. Fahmida, Community Support Program Advisor revealed on Tuesday that an 84% surge reported in the number of new infections of HIV over the past decade, while a mere 13.2% of PLHIV receive the necessary treatment.
She was addressing a consultative session which was held at Police Lines Islamabad, focusing on developing an engagement strategy to address HIV stigma and discrimination for the law enforcement agencies.
Speakers Call for a Comprehensive Strategy to Address HIV Stigma
Dr. Fahmida narrated that despite the implementation of strategic frameworks and national/provincial AIDS strategies, the country continues to witness a rapid and concerning increase in new HIV infections.
Dr. Syed Kaleem Imam, serving as the session moderator, underscored the significance of ensuring equitable and equal access to HIV services and solutions. Dr. Imam highlighted the urgent need to eliminate barriers hindering the achievement of successful HIV outcomes, emphasizing the allocation of sufficient resources to sustain efficient HIV responses and their integration into broader health systems, social protection frameworks, humanitarian settings, and pandemic responses.
Yuki Takemoto, UNAIDS Country Head, emphasized the critical importance of sensitizing communities to the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. She strongly advocated for active community participation in safeguarding against the disease.
During the session, Additional IG Zubair Hashmi, Additional Director General FIA Jan Mohammed, DIG Shoaib Khurram, SSP Umar, and Ms. Christina, along with others, expressed their support for the development of the engagement strategy.
The finalized strategy is expected to foster a supportive environment, promote awareness, and advance efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. UNDP will conduct similar sessions in other provincial metropolises to gather further input before finalizing the engagement strategy.
The gathering brought together 60 attendees, including representatives from prominent entities such as the FIA, Motorways Police, ICT Police, NGOs, civil society organizations, and students from various universities.
The event, organized under the auspices of UNDP and UNAIDS, aimed to raise awareness, devise prevention strategies, and establish guidelines to combat the prevailing HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The consultative session provided a platform for attendees to share valuable insights, experiences, and recommendations, shaping an effective engagement strategy aimed at tackling HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
