Pakistan’s National AIDS Control Program To Develop Media Project Aimed at Raising HIV/AIDS Among Youth, High-Risk Groups

Pakistani Health Secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari on Tuesday called on the National AIDS Control Programme to focus a new project aimed at raising HIV/AIDS awareness through the media on young people and high-risk groups in the country, Pakistan's Daily Times reports. Lashari discussed the project -- titled Delivery of Behavior Change Communication Services Through Television, Radio, Print Media and Interpersonal Communication Interventions -- at a meeting of NACP's technical advisory board to review the progress of the program's communication strategy.

According to the Times, members of the advisory group emphasized the need to sensitize the media to HIV/AIDS, as well as to arrange media visits to NACP activities in preparation for the project. The project will arrange talk shows on Islam and HIV/AIDS and other health issues during Ramadan. In addition, the project will participate in World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 and will host plays in several Pakistani cities to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, the Times reports (Daily Times, 8/22).