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NATIONAL AIDS PROGRAMME
- Pakistan |
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| In 1987, the Federal Committee on AIDS defined
broad policy guidelines, which were, to a large extent, laboratory
oriented. In 1994, the National Economic Council approved a
broader National AIDS Prevention and Control Programme from
1994 to 1997. |
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| In 1994, the AIDS programme, along with three
preventive health programmes were brought under the Social Action
Programme (SAP), a Government initiative supported by the World
Bank. In 1997, Part II of the SAP policy reform, targeted for
1997 to 2002, was adopted. HIV/AIDS is included in this phase
too. |
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| The National Aids Programme (NAP) has placed
its initial emphasis on the development of laboratory services
and surveillance. Later, high priority was given to the development
of a programme management structure and strengthening of the
NAP at federal and provincial levels. The National Institute
of Health (NIH) has been assigned to implement the NAP. The
STD and AIDS programmes are grouped in a single unit. |
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| Provincial implementation units for AIDS control
and safe blood use have been established in four provinces and
two federally administered areas. A comprehensive awareness
strategy has been implemented and 39 countrywide surveillance
and diagnosis centers have been established. |
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| The mainstay of the AIDS Control Strategy in Pakistan is Prevention.
The salient features of the strategy are: |
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- Gross enhancement of resources. The Government itself
sponsors about 80% of the total budget for AIDS Control
in Pakistan.
- Decentralisation of HIV/AIDS Control Programme up to
the provincial level through the development of Provincial
implementation units in all the provinces of the country.
- Development of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS awareness raising
strategy. This includes mass media campaign through electronic
and print media. Besides, the NGOs are being continuously
supported and NGO consortia on HIV/AIDS have been established
in all the provincial headquarters. The campaign has paved
the way to overcome the social and cultural barriers in
raising general awareness regarding the sexual and reproductive
health issues.
- The National policy also includes strengthening of a
national HIV/AIDS surveillance system. The government has
been providing logistic support for free HIV antibody testing
in the public sector. The government is committed to institutionalise
behavioural and serological surveillance through establishment
of second-generation surveillance system.
- The public sector blood banks are supported for provision
of free HIV and Hepatitis B screening since 1995 under the
government initiative for promoting safe blood transfusions.
The government is finalizing the legislative framework for
safety of blood.
- The National AIDS Control Programme serves as a resource
centre to develop country-specific guidelines and protocols
and for human resources development covering various aspects
of HIV/AIDS including counselling, care, support, clinical
management, STIs care, surveillance, and blood safety.
- There is a clear focus on bio-social research. Two national
studies on "Prevalence of STIs" and "2nd
HIV Scro-prevalence" are presently being carried out.
Pakistan is about to launch the second Knowledge Attitude
and Behaviour Survey at the national level to determine
the impact of media campaign. Simultaneously, an external
evaluation of the national programme will also be carried
out. All these studies will provide strong and evidence-based
information for the planning of AIDS control activities
in future.
- Government of Pakistan, in collaboration with UNAIDS
and its cosponsors has developed a "Strategic Framework"
for the next five years. This framework has identified nine
priority areas which include: expanded response, vulnerable
and high-risk groups, youth Surveillance and research, care
and support, general awareness, blood and blood product
safety, STIs and infection control.
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| Achievements: |
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- Provincial Implementation Units for AIDS control and safe
blood transfusion have been established in 4 provinces and
2 federally-administered areas.
- A comprehensive awareness-raising strategy has been developed
and implemented through activities such as electronic and
print media campaigns, telephone hotlines, support to NGOs,
district networking and imparting AIDS education to key
influential persons.
- 39 countrywide surveillance and diagnosis centers have
been established
- Broad policies for the essential screening of blood before
transfusion have been adopted for interrupting transmission
of infectious diseases such as AIDS.
- National guidelines on safety of blood transfusion and
standard operation procedures (SOPs) have been prepared
Public sector blood banks screen blood for HIV and hepatitis
B virus
- More than 300 training workshops and meetings on different
aspects of HIV/AIDS have been conducted since 1987
In close collaboration with the Multi-donor Support Unit
(MSU), the Social Action Programme (SAP) policy reform matrix
and budget plans have been developed up to year 2002 ·
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Address
National AIDS Programme,
National Institute of Health,
Chak Shahzad,
Islamabad,
Pakistan.
Telephone: (92-51) 9255096, 9255241 and 9255242
Fax (92-51) 9255214 |
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| National Programme Manager: Dr. Birjees Mazher
Kazi |
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| Coordinator: Lt. General (R.) Mohammad Saleem,
Executive Director, NIH |
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| Provincial Implementation Units
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| Support by other Ministries |
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| Related Links: The Epidemic |
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