Tackling HIV/AIDS in Sindh, Pakistan
Pakistan is a high-risk, low-prevalence country for HIV/AIDS. At present HIV primarily affects high risk groups, but this situation is changing. We have a narrow window of opportunity to prevent HIV becoming a generalised epidemic. Interact is working in the Sindh district, where the prevalence rates of HIV infections have been rising steadily over the last five years, particularly among sex workers, injecting drug users and migrant labourers. These high risk groups are often discriminated against and have little access to the available sexual and reproductive (SRH) and HIV/AIDS information and related services they so badly need.
There is an urgent need to address the SRH of these groups in terms of their own health, the health of their families and the health of the wider community. We are working together with local partners, the Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association (PAVNHA) and the Pakistan Society to tackle these urgent problems among groups that suffer appalling stigma and discrimination, poverty and ill-health.
This ground-breaking project is testing models of best practice in order to address poor SRH and to offer care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The models include a wide range of services and activities designed to empower highly vulnerable groups to protect themselves from HIV and other SRH problems, to access the services they need (clinical services, home-based care and information) and to raise awareness of the problem at local, regional and national levels. This innovative project has potential to be rolled out to other high risk/need areas of Pakistan.
