World AIDS Day 2022: What We should know!
Muhammad Naeem:
Islamabad: As we all know that World AIDS Day, designated on 1 December every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who’ve died of the disease.
The day is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care around the world.
This year theme of World AIDS DAY is `Communities Make the Difference’.
In his message pertaining to the day, the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said they need to harness the role of community-led organizations that advocate for their peers, deliver HIV services, defend human rights and provide support.
World AIDS Day was observed here in Pakistan on Sunday to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and express solidarity with people living with the pandemic but Lack of awareness and education, especially in rural areas, makes it harder to provide treatment and stop the spread of this disease. Even though the prevalence rate is low, Pakistan is still at risk of an Aids epidemic.
Recently HIV infection has been on the rise in Pakistan, with more than 9,000 cases reported in Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan. It shows the spread of the disease to the general public.
There are 165,000 cases of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan, of which only 15% know that they are suffering from this deadly disease.
HIV/AIDS is a chronic illness that lasts for a lifetime, with no definitive cure. People with AIDS often face discrimination as people around them believe in information they get from various non-medical sources. It is vital to share accurate information regarding the disease to end the taboo around it. As the condition has a sexual aspect, many people in Pakistan are reluctant to start this conversation. Though, if we’re going to save ourselves and others from this dangerous disease, we need to start the discussion to bust the myths regarding HIV/AIDS. With the rising cases in Pakistan, making people aware of the symptoms, causes, and facts about this disease can help prevent HIV/AIDS epidemic in Pakistan.
