ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the incumbent government is committed to strengthening the national HIV response to prevent lethal diseases like Aids. “On this World Aids Day 2024, Pakistan stands united with the global community in reaffirming our firm commitment to strengthening the national HIV response and ensuring that no one is left behind,” the prime minister said in his message on World Aids Day. The theme, ‘Take the Rights Path: My health, My right’, reminds us that the journey to eliminate Aids as a public health threat begins with a firm commitment to human rights, he said. Upholding the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and promoting the inclusion of all communities are essential for eradicating Aids as a public health threat. “Healthcare is a fundamental right. Through our collective efforts, we will ensure that all our citizens enjoy this fundamental right in an equitable manner. By working together, we will continue to strengthen our health systems and expand access to essential services for our citizens,” he added. Prime Minister Sharif termed HIV/Aids a health challenge and a significant socio-economic issue that threatens livelihoods, disrupts families, and deepens inequalities. Gaps in testing and treatment coverage call for deep introspection – a call to reach the most vulnerable, making strategies to be truly responsive to those at risk, and ensuring that our policies evolve to meet the shifting dynamics of the epidemic, he added. However, the prime minister admitted that despite our collective efforts, HIV epidemic in Pakistan continues to grow, underscoring the need for bold, innovative and sustainable interventions. “It is only through the strategy rooted in equality and inclusion that we can halt the spread of HIV. Strong political will, effective leadership, and enhanced financial commitments are essential to implementing a rights-based national HIV strategy,” he added. “On this World Aids Day, let us stand united to ‘take the right path’ towards an Aids-free Pakistan. A future free from Aids can only be achieved through collective action that upholds human dignity, equity and inclusion,” PM Sharif said.