Heads of various international and local agencies have expressed their willingness to undergo voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests, a local media house reported.
It was reported that those who volunteered for the test include World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative for Pakistan Dr Nima Saeed Abid, United Nations Pakistan Resident Coordinator Neil Bhune and National Aids Control Programme (NACP) Manager Dr Baseer Achakzai.
The NACP manager said it had been decided to engage organisations that were working with transgender people, drug users and sex workers to create awareness.
“Though people can get themselves tested for HIV from any health facility, there are 32 centres where there are proper arrangements for the treatment of patients,” Dr Achakzai said during an event held at the National Institute of Health.
Dr Nima Saeed Abid said, “HIV was just like any other disease and people with the virus could lead a normal life.”
UNAIDS Country Director for Pakistan and Afghanistan Dr Marlyn Borromeo said that Pakistan was among three most HIV vulnerable countries, while the other two being Philippines and Malaysia.
Replying to a question, Dr Borromeo said, “HIV was super smart due to which all efforts to make a vaccine had failed.”
