RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Punjab AIDS Control Program (PACP) organized a special session for epidemiologists, HIV/AIDS experts, molecular biologists/virologists and psychologists with renowned international consultant and researcher on HIV/AIDs Dr. Mobin Rathore, at the PACP Complex, here on Thursday.

Prof. Dr Mobin Rathore is Managing Director, Director and Associate Chair Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Center for HIV/AIDS Research, University of Florida, and is Director Community Engagement Research Program besides serving as Diplomat on American Board of Pediatrics as well as American Board of Infectious Diseases.

The visiting scholar agreed to Punjab request for technical support regarding treatment of complex cases and also agreed to give free access to grand HIV rounds in the USA besides agreeing for support and collaboration in HIV/AIDS research.

Additional Secretary (Admin) Primary and Secondary Healthcare and Program Director PACP, Dr Adnan Zafar Khan said learning the best global practices was the key to stopping new infections and achieving the global goals of 90-90-90.

“In every part of the world, there are different sets of challenges vis-à-vis modes of transmission and strategies have to be locally tailored. The initiatives to reach out to vulnerable and most-at-risk populations, IT solutions especially GIS mapping and mobile-text follow up are some of the most innovative solutions exclusively being used in Punjab,” Dr. Mobin said.

In the question-answer session, Dr Mobin Rathore said,” Stigma and discrimination towards HIV/AIDS patients has been a global phenomenon but now the realization is there that like diabetes and blood pressure, people can live normal lives by use of certain medicines.”

The visiting scholar got update on provision of free Hepatitis-B vaccination as well as Hepatitis-C treatment to major high risk groups like truck and bus drivers, trans-genders as well as vulnerable and marginalized communities and free treatment and counselling services to all HIV/AIDS patients across Punjab.