Post by Summayyah Rasheed
Programme Management I Advocacy and Campaigns I Gender, Inclusion, Climate Change & Human Rights I Training and Capacity Building I Researcher I Public Health Professional
#WorldHealthDay2026 in Pakistan What if the biggest risk isn’t #HIV - but not knowing your status? What about the barriers to accessing prevention and treatment services for HIV? The #mentalhealth struggles due to #stigma and #discrimination that make it harder to stay on treatment? Or the fear of medicines becoming unavailable? These are questions we’ve started to ask. Some are being discussed. A few are being addressed. But today, I want to raise a more #urgent and often overlooked issue: #HIV during #crises #emergencies. In today’s uncertain global and regional climate, disruptions like border tensions, airspace closures, and supply chain breakdowns can have life-threatening consequences. For people living with HIV #PLHIV, treatment is not optional. It is a lifeline. Now imagine: Delays or interruptions in life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) medicines. Rising fuel costs limiting access to treatment centers. Prevention services shrinking due to operational challenges. Increased internal and cross border #migration without proper screening or continuity of care. and many more... While Pakistan continues to see a rise in HIV cases across country, even the epidemic is considered concentrated among #keypopulations, there is still a critical gap: HIV is often overlooked in emergency #preparedness and #response. Whether it’s #humanitarian crises, #climate disasters, or regional conflicts we lack clear evidence, policies, and frameworks that address HIV in these situations. And that is a risk we cannot afford to ignore. On this @WorldHealthDay2026, as we advocate for scientific and evidence-based solutions, let’s ask ourselves: Where is HIV in our crisis response planning? It’s time to bring this conversation forward. To think ahead. To act collectively. Because #healthsystems must be #resilient and #inclusive in every situation. #WorldHealthDay #HIVAwareness #HealthForAll #CrisisPreparedness #Pakistan #PublicHealth UNDP Pakistan The Global Fund United Nations World Health Organization @NHSRCOfficialPk photos: UNDP Pakistan HIV Prevention Project
