Walk arranged to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS

PESHAWAR: The AIDS Control Programme Directorate of Health Services Merged Areas on Monday organised a walk to create awareness about HIV/AIDS in connection with the World AIDS Day.

DHS Merged Areas Dr Shah Faisal Khanzada, AIDS Control Programme Manager Dr Durkhany Wali and other officers participated in walk. The participants carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against HIV/AIDS.

Dr Shah Faisal Khanzada said AIDS was a fatal disease but curable if diagnosed in time. He asked politicians, tribal elders and social workers to play their role in creating awareness about the disease and help strengthen the AIDS Control Programme.

He said that AIDS Control Programme conducted free screening camps in different parts of merged areas and provided free treatment to people.

Dr Shah Faisal Khanzada appreciated the programme activities and directed the officials concerned to create awareness among the tribal people about the preventive measures.

AIDS Control Programme Manager Dr Durkhany Wali said that till April 2019, around 738 HIV positive patients were registered and they were getting free of charge tests, treatment and medicines at the Hayatabad Medical Centre, Peshawar. She said that to control the spread of the disease, three AIDS Control Centres had been set up in South Waziristan, Kurram and Bajaur.

A medicine specialist in each district has been nominated as a focal person for AIDS and now they were able to deal with these patients in own areas, she added.

Dr Durkhany Wali asked the people of the merged districts to get HIV tests done free of charge at the nearest centres.