Murad approves Rs 1bn Endowment Fund for welfare of HIV infected persons

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had approved Rs 1 billion Endowment Fund for the welfare of HIV/AIDS infected persons in the province and constituted a six-member committee to manage funds.

The chief minister along with Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had visited Taluka Ratodero Hospital, where a large number of HIV/AIDS cases had been diagnosed, said a statement on Monday.

The chief minister said that it was an unfortunate situation, especially for minor children who would have a lifelong disease that required proper continuous treatment.

He said that in order to resolve the problem the provincial government on the advice of the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had decided to establish an Endowment Fund with an allocation of Rs. 1 billion for 2019-20.

The fund would be managed by a six-member committee headed by the Sindh Minister for Health, while its members would be a local MPA/MNA of Larkana Division (to be nominated by the Chief Minister), a representative of Finance Department having experience of investment management, an expert of infectious

disease, a philanthropist/social worker (operating in that area) and additional secretary (Technical) Health department.

The Terms of Reference (TORs) of the committee included to bring initiatives and schemes for the welfare of HIV/AIDS infected persons and to roll out different measures for the rehabilitation, long term welfare and financial well-being of the HIV/AIDS infected persons and their families.

Measures for improving awareness of this contagious disease in general and particularly amongst high-risk groups.

The committee shall also be responsible for formation of an investment policy of the funds and keep record of the policy as well as of the investments and expenditures made.

The profits earned by the endowment fund shall be utilized or re-invested until utilized in accordance with the objectives.

While entire profit for a particular year, or accumulated profits of previous years can be utilized in endowment fund shall be utilized in a single year.

The committee will work in close coordination with the `Rehabilitation Committee for HIV/AIDS infected persons in Larkana Division already notified by the government.

The committee may opt any person in order to seek guidance and strengthen activities of the Endowment Fund.

Any other responsibility as might be given to the committee by the Chief Minister Sindh.

The endowment fund was to be named Investment Fund for Rehabilitation and Welfare of HIV/AIDS infected persons in Sindh.

The chief minister had delegated the management of investments of the fund to the Finance Department, wherein officials of the Finance Department shall exercise signing authority in respect of management of such investment.

However, expenditures from this fund shall be made only under the authorization of the committee for which the office of Secretary Health will have a separate bank account in which the finance department will remit the funds, as per requisition of the health department.

The Chief Minister said that his government was committed to rehabilitating the affected patients particularly the children and it would be stopped from further speared.