Sunny Trust International (STI) organized awareness-raising seminar on December 15, 2009, at Bhara Kahu, Islamabad for HIV/AIDS and IDUs in relation to World AIDS Day. The awareness activity focus was to raise the awareness level to promote the control of the transmission of HIV/AIDS, Drugs and IDUs.

Dr. Amir Maqbool, Deputy Programme Manager of National Aids Control Programme attended the session as chief guest & emphasized the effectiveness of awareness campaigns against HIV/AIDS. He engaged the attention of target audience to promote communication regarding healthy behaviors and decreasing the social stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS & Drugs among the general population and to promote preventative measures practices to avoid acquiring of viral infection. The fight against AIDS has to happen on two main fronts - prevention and care. To prevent the spread of AIDS, we have to educate people on how to prevent infection. We also have to change the social attitudes that make women vulnerable because they cannot refuse unsafe sex from a partner and the attitudes among men that lead to woman abuse and rape. Poverty alleviation and development are also important programs that will limit the spread of AIDS.

Government cannot fight this battle alone. Government can provide health and welfare services, development programmes and information. Organizations on the ground have to provide the type of leadership and direction that will lead to real change in people's attitudes and behavior.

Dr. Amir explained about AIDS and how does it transmit from one person to other. He told that HIV positive person can feel and look healthy for a long time. AIDS does not discriminate, everybody is vulnerable. HIV is only transmitted through unprotected sexual contact with an HIV infected partner, by sharing un-sterilized syringes of with HIV positive person and mother to child during pregnancy and breast feeding.

He also explained that HIV can not be transmitted through air, or by coughing and sneezing. Through food or water, sharing clothes or shaking hands, sharing toilet, by living with an infected person.
He told the audience the symptoms of HIV positive; in which some individuals experience an acute phase of HIV infection with short-term flu, whereas some people remain symptoms free. However their body’s immune system weakens and a person may become vulnerable to other pneumonias.

Chairman, Sunny Trust International, Dr. Munawar Fayyaz Sunny briefed the audience about the behaviors of Drug Addicts and the methods used by them for injecting drugs. He told that awareness is the only way of educating these people to protect them from HIV & AIDS. Due to drug addiction, their families have to suffer with very tough conditions.

Poverty & lack of knowledge is the main reason of transmission of HIV/AIDS & Hepatitis because infected syringes carry the virus from one patient to other; so this disease is spreading very quickly in Pakistan. Awareness is the only way of protection from HIV. Use a new disposable syringe or needle every time an injection is needed. Using sterile needles and syringes, and not sharing other equipment. Completely avoid the sharing of syringes and needles. Dr. Fiaz Sunny also explained the behavior of parents, teachers and community to explain the ways of spreading HIV among youth. Some societies find it difficult to discuss sex openly, and some authorities restrict what subjects can be discussed in the classroom, or in public information campaigns, for moral or religious reasons. Particularly contentious issues include premarital sex, condom use and homosexuality, the last of which is illegal or taboo in much of the world. He emphasized that it is the need of time that children should get awareness about HIV/AIDS & Drugs.

A large number of people from schools, colleges and local communities attended the seminar and talked to the experts regarding drugs and HIV/AIDS.

Needle exchange programmes have been shown to reduce the number of new HIV infections without encouraging drug use. These programmes distribute clean needles and safely dispose of used ones, and also offer related services such as referrals to drug treatment centers and HIV counseling and testing. Needle exchanges are a necessary part of HIV prevention in any community that contains injecting drug users. Dr. Munawar Fiaz Sunny suggested that to be successful, a comprehensive HIV prevention programme needs strong political leadership. This means politicians and leaders in all sectors must speak out openly about AIDS and not shy away from difficult issues like sex, sexuality and drug use.
Sunny Trust also distributed pamphlets among general public of Rawalpindi/Islamabad, schools and other institutions. Streamers and Banners were displayed on the main roads and crossings of Islamabad during the whole week.

Social attitudes:
The biggest problem in fighting AIDS is breaking the silence that surrounds the epidemic. Although thousands of people are ill or dying, it is not spoken about and families often hide the fact that their relatives had AIDS.

People still feel that it is something that happens to others and not to their families. People who are infected fear rejection and discrimination from those around them and try to hide their illness. Although testing is available, only about one in ten people who are HIV positive know it. This means that they can carry on infecting others without knowing it.

• Methods of drug treatment
• Safer injecting practices and other messages for IDUs
• Principles of working with IDUs
• Effectiveness of harm reduction interventions
• Testing and treatment for HIV+ IDUs
• Providing care and support for HIV+ IDUs

Participants highlighted the rights, needs and future of the AIDS affected children, women and men, and to spread increased awareness among general public about stigma and discrimination. It was also emphasized the need to provide such children with love, care and support.