Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - January 26, 2007
Mubashir Fida, Pakistan Delegation information officer
Mother-of-two, Shukriya Gul, recently received an award, along with other Pakistan Red Crescent Society staff and volunteers, during a visit by President Pervez Musharaf to the National Society's headquarters in Islamabad.
President Musharaf, who is also the President of the Pakistan Red Crescent, spoke at length with Shukriya as she was given an award for her work with the National Society's voluntary counseling and testing centre in Lahore. While a thrill to meet the country's leader, Shukriya realizes that their encounter had wider symbolic implications.
"Talking to the President was very encouraging and it gives the impression that he is interested personally in removing the misconceptions about AIDS in society," she said. "I felt at that moment that I am not alone in fighting HIV."
Shukriya's work with the testing and counseling centre is part of the work being done by the Pakistan Red Crescent to combat HIV/AIDS in a country, which while still classed as "low prevalence", is highly vulnerable to the disease.
The first HIV positive case in Pakistan was officially reported in 1986 and UNAIDS now estimates that 80,000 people are living with the virus in the country.
One of the major challenges for the Pakistan Red Crescent and the International Federation in combating HIV/AIDS is dealing with cultural conservatism. People simply do not openly talk about the disease in Pakistan, a problem the Pakistan Red Crescent health director, Dr Abdul Khaliq, is well aware of.
"People do not recognize the threat of AIDS due to the social stigma attached to the disease. The staff at the Pakistan Red Crescent Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center are trying hard to mobilize people and make it acceptable to the general public to talk about the risks they face, openly," he says.
The centre was established in Lahore in 2004 with the support of the Japanese Red Cross. Staff provide counseling and testing services, while another important part of their work is running awareness sessions with various target groups, such as students, factory workers, military personnel, and health workers. Almost 6,000 people have now benefited from these sessions, which not only highlight the facts about AIDS, but also promote tolerance and non-discrimination towards people living with HIV.
The health manager for the International Federation's delegation in Pakistan, Dr Muhammad Khalid, believes that in societies where people are loathe to talk openly about HIV/AIDS, the strategy has to be refined according to the culture.
For instance, the Pakistan Red Crescent entry point to culturally conservative rural communities is through village elders and clerics. The National Society teaches them the messages of prevention and tolerance and they, in turn, pass these onto their communities.
The highly vulnerable groups in Pakistan consist of injecting drug users, homosexuals, sex workers and truck drivers. AIDS transmission through intravenous drug use is a particular area of concern.
"It is shocking to see an increased prevalence rate of up to 30 percent in intravenous drug users," says Dr. Khaliq. His comments are echoed by Dr. Khalid, who agrees that the problem is growing.
"The prevalence rate has increased alarmingly to up to 26 percent in Karachi amongst intravenous drug users. We are trying to have more voluntary counseling and testing centers in cities like Karachi, but at the same time we need to talk more openly to defeat this disease," says Dr. Khalid.
He adds that a challenge for the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Pakistan is to help eliminate the social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness among the general public.
"It's time that we forget about the cultural barriers and start talking openly about it to eliminate it from our society and ensure a healthier tomorrow for generations to come," he says.
As President Musharaf's meeting with Shukriya Gul shows, that process of opening up is occurring.
During his visit, the President also viewed entries in a poster competition run by the Pakistan Red Crescent for World AIDS Day.
The competition on the theme of "Come Closer" received a good response with more than 180 people, many of them college students, sending in entries with powerful and frank messages on issues faced by people living with HIV - an impressive step forward in a country where the problem wasn't discussed until a short time ago.
070126
IF070101
Copyright © 2007 - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IFRC Contact.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .