Analysis

HIV known as AIDS is a lethal disease and it has drastic financial, psychological and social

implications. In Pakistan this issue has rarely been addressed by the academicians and

researchers. In Pakistani society the discussion about the issue such as AIDS is considered as a

taboo. HIV is dangerously at high level in Pakistan, although the appropriate statistics is not

available for the exact number. In Pakistan societal pressure, economic frustration, risky

behavior and increasing drug use are the factors that are influencing and are increasing the severe

hazards of facing the HIV threats. The Perception of threat of HIV is affected by a person’s own

sexual behavior. In the orthodox society such as Pakistan it is impermissible for women to have

multiple male partners. Since people have stigmatized behavior towards people having AIDS and

labeled the person as immoral and are denounced, hence people will be reluctant to go for testing

and therefore it increases the chances of HIV among them.

A common belief exists among the general masses in Pakistan that the patients of AIDS should

be left to undergo pain and agony because they received HIV from immoral sexual encounter.

Cultural barriers and gender discrimination greatly promote this global disease. Cultural factors

of Pakistani society such as morals and religious beliefs also played a role in the inability and

difficulty to implement HIV inspection programs. The society often blames the patients infected

with HIV for being ill and justifies discriminatory acts against them. The Social taboos and lack

of awareness among the general masses in Pakistan hinders the patients from testing. In Pakistan

people do not have the precise information about AIDS and have the stereotypical mindsets. The

research findings concluded that the major causes of HIV/AIDS in Pakistan are through blood

transfusion, sex with homosexuals and sexual intercourse with an HIV Patient. In Pakistan few

studies have been conducted concerning the awareness of AIDS among women. The people need
to be informed about the spread of HIV and effective measures should be taken for its prevention

and also there is a need to create a sympathetic atmosphere for the people affected with HIV.

HIV/AIDS continues to be a vital international public health matter. A great majority of people

affected with HIV lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. Compared to the other religions of the world,

sub-Saharan Africa has the highest infection level. Prejudice and Discrimination against the

people affected with AIDS continues to be the issue throughout the world. According to the

people living in a country where AIDS is highly prevalent such as South Africa, there is a lot of

prejudice exist against people having AIDS/HIV. AIDS is not a sole issue of individual starts,

it’s a universal problem. Its spread is influencing every part of society and its increasing and

indiscriminate spread in all the societies and groups is one of the elements that make HIV an

international issue. AIDS is a global danger that needs a global response. It’s the responsibility

of all the states, transnational and global institutions to respond collectively and address this

global issue. For United Nations, AIDS and other potentially threatening diseases have always

been a matter of concern. According to the Secretary general of UN Kofi Annan in January

2000,while addressing UNSC meeting on HIV/AIDS ,he said that: AIDS is causing socio-

economic crisis which in turn threaten political stability. This suggests that AIDS has been

viewed as a security threat that needs to be addressed not only on state level but also on global

level.