Re: The economics of employing people living with HIV. Lessons from Pakistan

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

As a project Officer of New Light AIDS Control Awareness Group in Pakistan. I

would like to make comments that HIV Positive persons can do what others can't

do in order to prevent of further transmission because they know about the

suffering and pathetic conditions when a person diagonse with HIV.

It is my experience in New Light which is the pioneer group of HIV Positive

persons working on their care and support, and empowerment in Pakistan.

With the support of CRS (Catholic Relief Services) and UNDP/GIPA initiative that

HIV Positive members works more hard than HIV negative persons. The big example

of Mr. Nazir Masih who is HIV positive and chairman of New Light, he works more

than ten hours in the day and tries to make his influence in order to bring

behavior change in the attitudes of community.

In New Light many hiv positive persons are doing jobs, go in community and play

their role with great determination, dedication and commitment. So it is cruel

to behave them with discrimination.

They just need to be appreciated and encouraged and only then positive results

of prevention activities would appeared in all over the world. Many HIV positive

members of New Light state that when they are behaved like normal people their

couraged increased and their commitment regarding prevention

of HIV/AIDS enhanced.

This we can prove by the fact that many HIV Positive members of New Light who

got trainings, speak in public, disclosing thier status, tries to change the

attitude of community with out fear of social discrimination and with out fear

of rejection.

They mention if We want to stop the transmission of HIV, just involve HIV

Positive persons in prevention activities, then see the result. They state that

HIV Positive persons should be involved in decision making so that they can

inform about realities and real matters which they face during their life.

By involving them New Light is playing very cruicial part in minmizing

discrimination exists in the society.

I would also like to inform those members of this Forum who are going to attend

XV International Conference in Thailand, that see the big Portrate of Mohammad

Nazir (member of New Light) in the conference with the message of reducing

discrimination which is according to him, is Cruel.

Thanks,

Eid Muhammad Shamas,

Project Officer,

New Light AIDS Control Awareness Group, Pakistan

Email: eid_ms@...