The Punjab AIDS Control Program and the World Health Organization will enhance technical collaboration regarding HIV/AIDS in Punjab. A WHO delegation comprising experts on STDs and infection control visited the PACP Complex at Birdwood Road Lahore and met a team of the Punjab AIDS Control Program led by Additional Secretary (Admin) Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, who is also Program Director PACP here on Monday.
Dr. Adnan Zafar gave a detailed presentation on the strategies and initiatives vis-à-vis high risk groups. “The Punjab AIDS Control Program is providing free treatment to all registered patients and has set up a dedicated psychological support unit for counseling of patients. Further we are providing blood screening, Hep B, Hep C blood sugar and other tests to bus and truck drivers at key locations in the province. Those testing negative for Hep B are also provided vaccination.”
The WHO delegation appreciated the initiatives by the PACP to reach out to high risk groups through innovative and technology driven interventions. The visiting delegation visited the state-of-the art laboratory, the IT center, and other key components of the PACP.
The WHO delegation suggested that a larger mainstreaming of package of services integrating key initiatives of vertical programs was an area to work on. The delegation also said that Punjab has made a lot of progress in the last two years and it is hoped that current initiatives will yield tangible results in near future.