Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari on Thursday underscored the need for collective efforts at national and international level to increase awareness about HIV, AIDS and sensitise masses about its social, legal and economic impacts.
The chairman during a meeting with UNAIDS Country Director Marc Saba also proposed that separate treatment centres need to be established in all the big cities of Pakistan and UNAIDS may extend assistance in this regard.
Saba said that the awareness campaigns can only be successful if the medical experts are also involved in it. Earlier, the UNAIDS country director informed the chairman about the overall national and international scenario of HIV and AIDS prevalence.
UNAIDS country director said that the global scenario was very worrisome, 35 million people currently living with HIV and nearly 25 million globally died of AIDS. He said that Pakistan was a low prevalence but high risk country for the spread of HIV / AIDS infection. He said that the UNAIDS intend to establish an institutionalized Parliamentarians Alliance in this regard. He said that the initiative will help in effective planning and awareness.
The alliance will consist of 50 parliamentarians from both the houses of Parliament, he informed. The chairman Senate appreciated the initiative; however, he said that he would nominate the senators after proper consultation.
