Objectives & Goals

HIV and AIDS poses a very real threat to the health of individuals, families and communities in Pakistan and to the progress
we have made in recent years as a nation. Although we currently face a number of difficult challenges in our development,
including conflict and natural disasters, paying insufficient attention to the warning signs presented by the growing HIV
and AIDS epidemic in Pakistan could cost us dearly in the long‐term. Responding effectively to HIV and AIDS will require
a co‐ordinated effort across a number of sectors. It will require us to confront difficult issues and to work with communities
to come up with strategies that particularly suit our environment, our culture and our religious values. In doing this, we
cannot afford to shy away from the issues that we find uncomfortable or challenging. We are working to reach the following
goal and meet objectives.

Goal
To prevent a generalized epidemic in Pakistan by containing the spread of HIV and AIDS and elimination of stigma and
discrimination against those infected and effected

Objectives
1. Prevention of HIV transmission
2. Safe Blood Transfusion
3. Reduction of Sexually Transmitted Diseases transmission
4. Establishment of surveillance
5. Reduce Stigma attached with disease
6. Training of Health Staff
7. Research and Behavioral studies
8. Development of Programme Management.
9. Create an enabling environment
10. Build the right capacity
11. Strengthen the institutional framework

What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight off infections. Untreated HIV
infects and kills CD4 cells, which are a type of immune cell called T cells. Over time, as HIV kills more CD4 cells, the
body is more likely to get various types of infections and cancers.
HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids that include:

 blood

 semen

 vaginal and rectal fluids

 breast milk

The virus doesn’t spread in air or water, or through casual contact.

HIV is a lifelong condition and currently there is no cure, although many scientists are working to find one. However,
with medical care, including treatment called antiretroviral therapy, it’s possible to manage HIV and live with the virus
for many years.

What is AIDS?

AIDS is a disease that can develop in people with HIV. It’s the most advanced stage of HIV. But just because a person has
HIV doesn’t mean they’ll develop AIDS.

HIV kills CD4 cells. Healthy adults generally have a CD4 count of 500 to 1,500 per cubic millimeter. A person with HIV
whose CD4 count falls below 200 per cubic millimeter will be diagnosed with AIDS.
A person can also be diagnosed with AIDS if they have HIV and develop an opportunistic infection or cancer that’s rare
in people who don’t have HIV. An opportunistic infection, such as pneumonia, is one that takes advantage of a unique
situation, such as HIV.

Untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS within a decade. There’s no cure for AIDS, and without treatment, life expectancy
after diagnosis is about three yearsTrusted Source. This may be shorter if the person develops a severe opportunistic
illness. However, treatment with antiretroviral drugs can prevent AIDS from developing.

If AIDS does develop, it means that the immune system is severely compromised. It’s weakened to the point where it can
no longer fight off most diseases and infections. That makes the person vulnerable to a wide range of illnesses, including:

 pneumonia

 tuberculosis

 oral thrush, a fungal infection in the mouth or throat

 cytomegalovirus (CMV), a type of herpes virus

 cryptococcal meningitis, a fungal infection in the brain

 toxoplasmosis, a brain infection caused by a parasite

 cryptosporidiosis, an infection caused by an intestinal parasite

 cancer, including Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and lymphoma

The shortened life expectancy linked with untreated AIDS isn’t a direct result of the syndrome itself. Rather, it’s a result
of the diseases and complications that arise from having an immune system weakened by AIDS. Learn more about
possible complications that can arise from HIV and AIDS.

HIV transmission: Know the facts

Anyone can contract HIV. The virus is transmitted in bodily fluids that include:
 blood
 semen
 vaginal and rectal fluids
 breast milk

Some of the ways HIV is spread from person to person include:

 through vaginal or anal sex — the most common route of transmission, especially among men who have sex with
men
 by sharing needles, syringes, and other items for injection drug use
 by sharing tattoo equipment without sterilizing it between uses
 during pregnancy, labor, or delivery from a woman to her baby
 during breastfeeding
 through “pre-mastication,” or chewing a baby’s food before feeding it to them
 through exposure to the blood of someone living with HIV, such as through a needle stick

The virus can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion or organ and tissue transplant. However, rigorous testing for
HIV among blood, organ, and tissue donors ensures that this is very rare in the United States.

It’s theoretically possible, but considered extremely rare, for HIV to spread through:
 oral sex (only if there are bleeding gums or open sores in the person’s mouth)
 being bitten by a person with HIV (only if the saliva is bloody or there are open sores in the person’s mouth)
  contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and the blood of someone living with HIV

HIV does NOT spread through:

 skin-to-skin contact
 hugging, shaking hands, or kissing
 air or water
 sharing food or drinks, including drinking fountains
 saliva, tears, or sweat (unless mixed with the blood of a person with HIV)
 sharing a toilet, towels, or bedding
 mosquitoes or other insects

It’s important to note that if a person with HIV is being treated and has a persistently undetectable viral load, it’s virtually
impossible to transmit the virus to another person.

Causes of HIV

HIV is a variation of a virus that infects African chimpanzees. Scientists suspect the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)
jumped from chimps to humans when people consumed infected chimpanzee meat. Once inside the human population, the
virus mutated into what we now know as HIV. This likely occurred as long ago as the 1920s.

HIV spread from person to person throughout Africa over the course of several decades. Eventually, the virus migrated to
other parts of the world. Scientists first discovered HIV in a human blood sample in 1959.

It’s thought that HIV has existed in the United States since the 1970s, but it didn’t start to hit public consciousness until
the 1980s. Learn more about the history of HIV and AIDS in the United States.

Causes of AIDS

AIDS is caused by HIV. A person can’t get AIDS if they haven’t contracted HIV.

Healthy individuals have a CD4 count of 500 to 1,500 per cubic millimeter. Without treatment, HIV continues to multiply
and destroy CD4 cells. If a person’s CD4 count falls below 200, they have AIDS.

Also, if someone with HIV develops an opportunistic infection associated with HIV, they can still be diagnosed with
AIDS, even if their CD4 count is above 200.

What tests are used to diagnose HIV?

Several different tests can be used to diagnose HIV. Healthcare providers determine which test is best for each person.

Antibody/antigen tests

Antibody/antigen tests are the most commonly used tests. They can show positive results typically within 18–45
daysTrusted Source after someone initially contracts HIV.

These tests check the blood for antibodies and antigens. An antibody is a type of protein the body makes to fight an
infection. An antigen, on the other hand, is the part of the virus that activates the immune system.

Antibody tests

These tests check the blood solely for antibodies. Between 23 and 90 daysTrusted Source after transmission, most people
will develop detectable HIV antibodies, which can be found in the blood or saliva.

These tests are done using blood tests or mouth swabs, and there’s no preparation necessary. Some tests provide results in
30 minutes or less and can be performed in a healthcare provider’s office or clinic.
Other antibody tests can be done at home:

 OraQuick HIV Test. An oral swab provides results in as little as 20 minutes.

 Home Access HIV-1 Test System. After the person pricks their finger, they send a blood sample to a licensed
laboratory. They can remain anonymous and call for results the next business day.

If someone suspects they’ve been exposed to HIV but tested negative in a home test, they should repeat the test in three
months. If they have a positive result, they should follow up with their healthcare provider to confirm.

Nucleic acid test (NAT)

This expensive test isn’t used for general screening. It’s for people who have early symptoms of HIV or have a known
risk factor. This test doesn’t look for antibodies; it looks for the virus itself. It takes from 5 to 21 days for HIV to
be detectable in the blood. This test is usually accompanied or confirmed by an antibody test.

Today, it’s easier than ever to get tested for HIV. Learn more about HIV home testing options.