Lack of awareness and stigma contributes to spread of AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV/AIDS, is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in humans and similar viruses in other species (SIV, FIV, etc.). The late stage of the condition leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. Although treatments for AIDS and HIV exist to decelerate the virus' progression, there is currently no known cure.

Low levels of awareness about HIV/AIDS and the social stigma associated with the disease are contributing to its spread in Pakistan. Recently a nation wide campaign has been launched to educate the masses about the disease and its preventions. Massive participation is required for reducing the stereotypes and stigma attributed to this disease. Numerous researches have been conducted in order to device efficient and effective strategies and to know what is the level of awareness among the local people.

According to an online news report, "the rate of HIV prevalence in Pakistan is 0.1 percent. The number of cases increasing among high-risk groups -- such as the country's 150,000 injection drug users and men who have sex with men." In addition, the stigma associated with these populations has kept most people from reporting their HIV-positive status. About 3,700 HIV/AIDS cases have been registered officially in the country since 1986, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN AIDS say that there are about 200,000 cases. The World Bank also says that limited surveillance and voluntary HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services, combined with a lack of education among health professionals and the general population, are contributing to the spread of the disease.

A survey released by the Punjab AIDS Control Programme found that 87 percent of people in eight districts of Punjab had heard of HIV. Twenty-six percent of respondents said that they were aware that HIV can be transmitted through risky sexual behaviour; 23 percent said that they knew that HIV can be transmitted by reusing needles; six percent said that they knew that blood transfusions pose a risk; and four percent said that they knew that condoms help prevent HIV. Some advocates have launched media campaigns and lobbied government officials in the country to help promote HIV/AIDS awareness. The government has adopted new awareness targets that seek to reach 25 percent of the population in each high-risk group including commercial sex workers and trans-gendered people by the end of 2007, with an ultimate target of 60 percent by 2010.

Akbar Babar, a private consultant who carried out the Punjab study, said that increased resources are needed to conduct an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in the country. "We all know awareness campaigns are expensive, electronic media is expensive, but extremely poor levels of awareness about HIV and its transmission routes should convince policymakers that we need to allocate a lot more (resources) so that the media reports can be more intense," he said, calling for a significant boost in funds, particularly for television.