Used syringes use causes HIV:Dr. Salman Shahid

Lahore: Director Punjab Aids Control Programme Dr. Salman Shahid informed that the addicts who use drugs through syringes are most affected people by HIV/AIDS. Similarly, the percentage of HIV/AIDS is very high in sex workers.

He expressed these views while addressing an awareness seminar in connection with International Day of prevention of HIV/AIDS, here today.

He said that diagnostic and treatment centres for AIDS patient have been doubled in Punjab and a project for stopping of transmission from pregnant women to their children is also successfully run by the PACP.

He said that PACP saving 1500 lives every year by these efforts. He disclosed that Punjab government has approved PC-I of 16.5 million dollar for AIDS Control. He said that under Punjab AIDS Control Programme, free diagnostic and treatment facilities are being provided through 13 counseling/test centres, nine diagnostic centres and six centres of prevention of transmission of AIDS from pregnant women to their children.

All the funds have been provided by the provincial government and approximately Rs. one lakh are being spent on each AIDS patient every year. The seminar was also addressed by Country Coordinator UN-AIDS Islamabad . Marc Saba, National Programme Manager NACP Islamabad Sayed Muhammad Javed, WHO Islamabad representative, Dr. Qaid Saeed, UNICEF Islamabad Dr. Nasir Sarfaraz and other representatives of different NGOs.

They appreciated the steps taken by the Punjab government for controlling of HIV/AIDS and reiterated their commitment towards fighting the disease and continued support to the provincial programme.