PESHAWAR
\nExpressing concern over delay in passage of `Khyber Pakhtunkhwa HIV, AIDS Prevention, Control, Treatment and Protection Bill, 2019`, Provincial Minister for Health Khaliq-ur-Rehman on Wednesday directed constitution of an expert committee to review the draft legislation and prepare recommendations for its early submission to the relevant department, paving the way for its approval.
\nThe minister tasked the committee with determining the current status of the bill and submitting its recommendations within one month to facilitate its early passage.
\nHe issued these directives while chairing a ministerial briefing on the proposed legislation, jointly organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) and Blue Veins, a rights-based organization working on gender equality and public health.
\nBlue Veins will provide technical assistance to the committee during review and amendments to the proposed bill.
\nThe briefing was attended by Director General Health Services KP Dr Shaheen Afridi, Additional DG, Shahid Younas, Programme Director HIV Control Dr Tariq Hayat, Members Provincial Assembly Shazia Tehmas and Rehana Ismail, former MPA Shagufta Malik, Humaira Fatima, Vice President of the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zareen Akhtar and representatives of civil society and the transgender community.
\n\u201cFor the passage of a comprehensive law on HIV prevention, we should not act in haste. However, given the urgency of the situation and reports indicating that the number of HIV cases is increasing at an alarming pace, we must finalize a well-considered and effective law at the earliest possible opportunity,\u201d Khaliq-ur-Rehman said.
\nHe stressed the need to enhance public awareness about HIV and other health issues, saying that inadequate awareness continues to increase the burden of preventable diseases.
\nThe minister said the proposed legislation would be reviewed to make it simple, practical, inclusive, and comprehensive, ensuring that it effectively addresses the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
\nHe also directed participants to examine HIV-related laws enacted in other provinces and incorporate relevant best practices while finalizing the proposed legislation for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\nIn her welcome address, Chairperson KPCSW Dr Sumera Shams briefed participants on the background of the proposed legislation and factors that had delayed its passage.
\nShe said the ministerial briefing had been convened to build consensus for the early enactment of the bill, which would strengthen HIV prevention efforts, safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and improve access to treatment and support services.
\nProgramme Manager Blue Veins, Qamar Naseem emphasized the need to protect rights of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), saying that stigma and discrimination had forced nearly 20,000 patients to discontinue treatment.
\nHe added that, according to media reports, thousands of people living with HIV in the province remain unregistered and are unable to access treatment because of fear of stigma.
\nMPA Shazia Tehmas appreciated salient features of the proposed bill and suggested incorporating provisions for greater coordination with Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to strengthen screening and monitoring of infected passengers arriving from abroad.
\nDirector General Health Services KP, Dr Shaheen Afridi, called for a multi-sectoral approach involving government departments, civil society, educational institutions and the media to create greater awareness about HIV prevention, testing and treatment. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Expressing concern over delay in passage of `Khyber Pakhtunkhwa HIV, AIDS Prevention, Control, Treatment and Protection Bill, 2019`, Provincial Minister for Health Khaliq-ur-Rehman on Wednesday directed constitution of an expert committee to review the draft legislation and prepare recommendations for its early submission to the relevant department, paving the way for its approval. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":555259,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-555246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-peshawar"],"yoast_head":"\n