Karachi:The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Islamabad in collaboration with Ministry of Narcotics Control (MONC), UNODC, UNDP, UNAIDS and WHO organized an ‘Awareness Workshop on Drug Use and HIV’ on 19 December 2023 in Karachi.

Purpose of this workshop was to create awareness among health journalists on drug abuse, HIV AIDS, HIV prevention among people who inject drugs (PWID), harm reduction and OAMT.

The one-day workshop was attended by representatives of key media houses and prominent health journalists. Dr. Farrukh Mahmood, UNODC welcomed all the participants and said that the workshop is being organized to create awareness on drug use and drug use related HIV, the various interventions/approaches for drug dependence treatment and prevention of HIV and blood borne infections transmission among PWID. 

Mr. Shahzad Durrani, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Narcotics Control, in his opening remarks emphasized on the need of collective and coordinated efforts to deal with the menace of HIV among PWIDs. He mentioned that drug problem is emerging as a threat to health of the people. There is social and economic impact of drug use on families, society and country. The financial situation of the families of the drug users has an impact on family nutrition and education.

The family of the drug user is socially isolated because of the stigma attached to drug use. Children become vulnerable to drug use due to presence of drugs in the household. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sikandar Memon, Additional Director CDC-HIV, Sindh province said that the Provincial Health Department is taking all possible steps to prevent the spread of HIV among key populations and for care of support of those who are living with HIV.

Dr. Umair Malik, National AIDS Control Programme presented a brief background of HIV and AIDS epidemic in the country and shared other dynamics of this deadly and silent disease. He said Government of Pakistan is committed to halt the disease and putting all resources with the support of provincial AIDS Control Programs as well as UN partners and Global Fund for fight AIDS TB and Malaria.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 20 2023

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