Sindh Governor Promulgates HIV/AIDS Control, Treatment and Protection Ordinance 2013

KARACHI: Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan on Wednesday promulgated The Sindh HIV/ AIDS Control, Treatment and Protection Ordinance 2013.

Caretaker Sindh Minister for Law, Mehmood Mandviwala in a consequent announcement said this was the first HIV/ AIDS law in the region that equally contains provision to control transmission of the virus and facilitates treatment of the people living with the condition.

The Law Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Prisons, said the most important provisions of this Ordinance are the protection provided to the people living with HIV against discriminations in all spheres of life, including health-care, employment, and education.

The ordinance also incorporates penalties prescribed for any such discrimination and stigmatisation of the HIV/ AIDS patients.

Mandviwalla said that Pakistan was facing a concentrated epidemic of HIV/ AIDS and the government, since 1987 when the first HIV positive case was reported in the country, had been attempting to respond to the situation, through national and provincial AIDS control programmes respectively.

"After 18th amendment and the devolution of health ministry to the provinces, HIV/ AIDS has now become a provincial subject and therefore it is imperative that the province of Sindh takes urgent measures for the control of the virus and its treatment besides protection of people living with HIV/ AIDS, alongwith the high risk sections of the society," said the Law Minister.

"The Ordinance provides for the formation of Sindh AIDS Commission that shall be responsible for public awareness about HIV/AIDS. Formulation of relevant policy, rules of protocols for counselling, testing, care and support," he said.

The Commission would also be responsible to advise the government on all matters relating to prevention, control, care, support and treatment of the disease.

Mehmood Mandviwala said that the Ordinance also provides protection against discrimination on the basis of suspected, presumed, alleged or actual HIV status in health-care services, education, employment and other services or accommodation.

"It prohibits coercion and/or requirement of screening of a person for any of the above purposes or for marriage," said the Minister.

He said that in view of the difficulties being faced by the people living with HIV/AIDS, the Sindh HIV/AIDS Control, Treatment, Protection Ordinance 2013 also provides for establishment of a one- window health-care facility for HIV/AIDS patients.