Provincial HIV/AIDS Control Programme, GoNWFP

Reduce women's vulnerability to HIV and AIDS

Women's leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS has formally launched under the supervision of UNAIDS and Provincial AIDS Control Programme NWFP (PACP) in the province on Wednesday with the purpose to reduce women's vulnerability to HIV and AIDS by raising awareness through adopting multi sectoral approach. The forum was established in a high level meeting arranged under the auspices of PACP and UNAIDS in the provincial metropolis. Female parliamentarians, educationists, health care providers and civil society members participated the meeting. Those who spoke on the occasion included; Secretary Health NWFP, Dr. Tashfeen Khan, UNAIDS Country Director, Majszyk Arkadiusz, Manager Provincial AIDS Control Programme, Dr. Roohullah Jan, Dr. Mohammad Salim, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor UNAIDS, Meagem Baldin and Dr. Nareen Akbar Spoke on the occasion. The speakers expressed concern over the increasing spread of HIV among women and urged the need of sorting out workable solution to stop its further transmission by involving women belonging to different circles. The forum comprising women parliamentarian, civil society member and private sector will try to influence policies and plans and strive for educate the multi sectoral nature of the epidemic to ensure accurate, timely and effective steps for its control. The body will advocate on broad and diverse issues that are faced by women in Pakistan within the context of HIV/AIDS. The forum will also advocate for prevention, treatment and care support facilities for women. The scope of the forum will include access to HIV prevention services like sexual and reproductive health services for women. Similarly access to better care, treatment and ARV services, female controlled prevention methods and women participation in the AIDs response will part of the scope of the forum. Secretary Health NWFP, Dr. Tashfeen Khan while welcoming establishment of the forum said that it was a break throw for involving women from private sector to come up with a workable plan to address the multi sectoral and cultural issues related to the epidemic in a proper way. He stressed the need of awareness and focused attentive on high risk group  and also assured all out support for the cause. Majszyk. Arkadiusz, Country Director UNAIDS said HIV/AIDS was a complex issue and therefore coordinated efforts of UN agencies, government, civil society, corporate sector, donors and HIV/AIDS patients are need to address it effectively. Dr. Roohullah Jan, Provincial Manager, PACP underlined the need of a plan compatible to the norms of the society to protect women from HIV infection. Dr. Naseer Akbar, highlighted HIV/AIDS situation in NWFP and elaborated that free treatment services were available for AIDS patients in the province. She informed that there were 247 registered HIV positive patients in the province and mapping of high risk groups had been completed in eight cities of the province.

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Advocacy Seminar with Parliamentarians & Civil Society Members on HIV & AIDS

The Two Days Advocacy Seminar with Parliamentarians and Civil Society Members on HIV & AIDS has been done at Elites Hotel Nathia Gali on August 16 & 17, 2007.