KARACHI: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination organized an ‘Awareness Workshop on Drug abuse and HIV’ in Karachi on Tuesday.
The one-day workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Narcotics Control (MONC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNAIDS, and WHO.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness among health journalists on issues related to drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, HIV prevention among people who inject drugs (PWID), harm reduction, and Opioid Agonist Maintenance Treatment (OAMT). Representatives from major media outlets and distinguished health journalists attended the workshop.
The workshop was attended by the representatives of major media outlets and distinguished health journalists.
Dr. Farrukh Mahmood of UNODC welcomed attendees, and said that the purpose of the workshop was to create awareness about drug use, HIV, interventions for drug dependence treatment, and the prevention of HIV transmission among PWID.
Mr. Shahzad Durrani, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Narcotics Control, highlighted the necessity for collective efforts to combat HIV among PWIDs. He underscored the emerging threat to public health posed by drug use, with social and economic repercussions on families, society, and the country. Mr. Durrani urged all sectors to contribute to drug use prevention, assuring the Ministry of Narcotics Control’s support in prevention efforts against both drug use and HIV among PWIDs.
Dr. Sikandar Memon, Additional Director of CDC-HIV, Sindh province, affirmed the Provincial Health Department’s commitment to preventing HIV spread among key populations and providing support to those living with HIV.
Dr. Umair Malik from the National AIDS Control Programme provided an overview of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Pakistan. He outlined the government’s commitment to combating the disease through collaborative efforts with provincial AIDS Control Programs, UN partners, and the Global Fund. Dr. Malik stressed the alarming prevalence of the epidemic among drug users and highlighted the positive impact of OAMT in reducing HIV transmission in many countries.
Participants were briefed on the social and economic impact of drug use on families, society, and the country, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive multisectoral response to address drug-related challenges.
Additional Information on Drug, HIV
The workshop identified a low level of awareness about the harms associated with drug use, indicating a need for increased awareness of drug prevention. It emphasized the importance of strengthening drug treatment services in terms of quality and coverage. The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, the Ministry of Narcotics Control, and UNODC have developed ‘Drug treatment protocols’ and ‘Drug treatment guidelines’ for Pakistan. Training programs based on these guidelines have been conducted for staff at government and private/NGO-run drug treatment facilities.
The high prevalence of HIV among people who inject drugs (PWID) underscores the urgency to enhance service coverage for this population.
