Islamabad: Concerned over the growing spread of HIV and other blood borne infections among children and the wider population due to unsafe medical practices, a group of healthcare professionals, public health experts and citizens has decided to launch a nationwide awareness and advocacy campaign aimed at promoting patient safety, safe injections, screened blood transfusions and improved infection control practices across Pakistan.
The decision was taken at a strategy preparation meeting presided over by former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, who is also a member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on HIV.
The meeting was attended by Dr Quaid Saeed, Dr Hassan Abbas Zaheer, Dr Tariq Cheema, Dr Adnan Khan, Dr Anis Ahmed, Mrs Maryam Zafar and journalist Muhammad Waqar Bhatti, while Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr, Imran Patel, Muhkam Khan and Syed Omer Ahmed joined online.
Participants reviewed the emerging HIV situation in Pakistan, particularly the increasing number of children infected through unsafe injections, contaminated medical procedures and transfusion of unscreened blood, and discussed ways to mobilise public support for stronger safeguards in the healthcare system.
Dr Zafar Mirza informed the participants that the report of the Prime Minister's Task Force on HIV had been finalised and was awaiting approval from the competent authority before its formal release. He said the report contains a set of recommendations aimed at curbing the spread of HIV and strengthening prevention, surveillance and regulatory mechanisms in the country.
The meeting decided that public awareness regarding HIV prevention, the importance of timely treatment, injection safety, safe blood transfusions and infection prevention and control measures at healthcare facilities would be focused. Participants agreed to use both mainstream and social media platforms to disseminate evidence based information and counter misinformation.
