LAHORE: The Punjab AIDS Control Programme on Thursday organised a special session for epidemiologists, HIV/AIDS experts, molecular biologists/virologists and psychologists with renowned international consultant and researcher on HIV/AIDS Dr Mobeen Rathore at the PACP Complex, Institute of Public Health. Professor Dr Mobin Rathore is the director and associate chair, Department of Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Centre for HIV/AIDS Research, University of Florida, and is director of Community Engagement Research Programme, besides serving as a diplomat on American Board of Paediatrics as well as the American Board of Infectious Diseases. The visiting scholar agreed to the Punjab government’s request for technical support regarding treatment of complex cases and also agreed to give free access to Grand HIV rounds in the US, besides agreeing for support and collaboration in HIV/AIDS research. Primary and Secondary Healthcare Additional Secretary (Admin) and PACP Programme Director Dr Adnan Zafar Khan said learning the best global practices was the key to stopping new infections. “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 Mobeen added. In the question-answer session, Dr Mobin Rathore said, “Stigma and discrimination towards HIV/AIDS patients has been a global phenomenon but now the realisation is there that like diabetes and blood pressure, people can live normal lives by use of certain medicines.”
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