World AIDS Day is celebrated on 1st December worldwide. As part of this international campaign, a Seminar on HIV/AIDS was held on 30th November 2018, jointly organized by the Department of Pathology and the Department of Medical Education, AMC. The participants included students of 3rd year MBBS and 2nd year BDS. The seminar was facilitated by Dr. Noaman Siddiqui, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator DME. He discussed various aspects of HIV/AIDS including the characteristics of the virus, global & national HIV/AIDS statistics, modes of transmission, clinical manifestations, diagnostic & preventive measures and issues related to HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination.
He said according to the latest statistics of UNAIDS, about 36.9 million people globally were living with HIV in 2017; about 1.8 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2017. Approx. 77.3 million people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic while 35.4 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic. According to data fromNational AIDS Control Program (NACP), approx. 150000 people are living with HIV in Pakistan of these 25200 people are registered with NACP while 15390 people are on ARV.
He appraised the audience about various activities being conducted about HIV/AIDS awareness, control and prevention in the region. Facilities of free testing against HIV/AIDS are available at Ayub Teaching Hospital through Integrated HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis & Thalasseamia Control Program, along with free counseling for these diseases by trained staff.
Pre-test and post-test of the participants were conducted as part on ongoing research regarding knowledge, attitudes and practices of general population and healthcare professionals in particular.
