Sir: HIV/AIDS is still one the biggest social taboos in Pakistan. According to a report published recently, at least 15 blood donors screened in Badin turned out to be HIV-positive. It is pertinent to mention that blood samples were sent to Karachi and tested in one of the reliable laboratories. The news sent waves of shock and fear among the residents of Badin. People in Badin still do not know about AIDS and how it can be prevented; all that they know is that it is a disease that is to be feared. For the consumption of readers, I want to relate a few things about Badin. Badin, being one of the largest districts of Sindh, is blessed with natural resources like oil and gas reserves while also housing a number of sugar mills. Of the total oil and gas production, 67 percent of crude oil and 44 percent of natural gas is drilled from Badin. In spite of such a significant contribution to the national exchequer, the district has no tertiary care hospital. It is one of the richest districts in terms of natural resources and one of the poorest in terms of human development. Because of a lack of human development, awareness on AIDS is not created among the people of this area with the consequence that the disease is still seen as a stigma. Considering AIDS a social taboo, social stigma and an object of fear and suffering are proving more dangerous than the disease itself. Our country has entered into the second phase of concentrated epidemic from the first phase of low prevalence. The second phase of concentrated epidemic means that the proportion of infected people in any high-risk group has risen more than five percent. Currently more than 100,000 known cases of HIV/AIDS are present in Pakistan, while the unknown cases of HIV/AIDS might run in millions because the detection of HIV infection is particularly challenging when very low levels of virus are present in the blood, for example during ‘window period’. The window period is the time between being infected with HIV and the ability of an HIV test to detect HIV in an infected person.Through education, we can prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading further. Certain behavioural changes like restricting oneself to one’s life partner, using STI (sexually transmitted infection) treatment services when symptoms become obvious, using sterile syringes for all injections, reducing the number of injections received, voluntary blood donation (particularly among the age group 18 to 30), using blood for transfusion only if it has been screened for HIV, and displaying tolerant and caring behaviours towards people living with HIV/AIDS and members of vulnerable populations.Our motto should be:“Kill all the social taboos before the HIV/AIDS kills you, your partner and your country.”A major risk group for HIV/AIDS in urban areas of Pakistan are the injecting drug users (IDUs). There are tough challenges ahead for us. These are our loved ones, our countrymen and this is our country; we have to make it beautiful, strong, healthy and free from diseases.DR SAIFUR REHMANIslamabad