By Ishtiaq Ahmed, National Coordinator, APLHIV, Islamabab
Pakistan is currently classified to be the ‘Concentrated Epidemic’ phase by WHO/UNAIDS definition but high risk country for further spread of HIV infection to the general population due to a number of varied factors. Official HIV statistics published by UNAIDS give an increase in HIV and AIDS cases, with 85,000 people, or 0.1% of the population (Global HIV&AIDS Epidemic Report 2008). While as far as reported HIV&AIDS cases are concerned, authentic data is not available about reported HIV&AIDS cases, however, as per unreliable sources there is about 5000 people have been reported so far and number of unreported HIV&AIDS cases also exist. In Pakistan, the people living with HIV&AIDS are facing many problems in getting adequate treatment, care and support services. Although the National AIDS Control Programme, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, PLHIV Support Groups are putting many resources to address such problems. But due to stigma and discrimination attached with PLHIV and inadequate accessibility and availability of treatment, care and support service especially to the people living in remote areas, the hardships of PLHIV and their families are being increased day by day. Keeping in view, in order to address the issues of PLHIV, the Association of People Living with HIV&AIDS (APLHIV) had been established in Pakistan in 2006. The APLHIV is a nationwide network of People Living with HIV & AIDS striving to protect the rights of the PLHIV while ensuring their dignity as well. It endeavors to ensure the sufficient availability and accessibility of essential services to them in Pakistan through meaningful advocacy, lobbying, policy dialogue, mass awareness, social mobilization, public private partnership, research and capacity building programmes. In order to enlighten your knowledge about the progress as well as the future plan of the Association, I would like to share with you an overview of the Association. I hope, by improving the coordination and partnership with key stakeholders, the pace of the progress dynamics of the Association will be accelerated positively.
Brief progress and a way forward:
- Formal announcement of the establishment of the Association took place in a meeting of key stakeholders held on 1st December 2006. It was led by the UNAIDS-Pakistan in collaboration with multilateral donors, UN agencies, GOs, NGOs and PLHIV support groups.
- The Association got registration under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance 1961 in May 2008.
- APLHIV is led by an Executive Board. The current Executive Board consists of ten PLHIV leaders across the country and majority of them are rendering Treatment, Care, Support and Prevention services for the People Living with HIV&AIDS.
- To provide the Association with due assistance of technical input, financial support and advocacy, an Advisory Board was formed consisting of 13 members from UN system, UNAIDS (Chair), INGOs, GOs, NGOs etc.
- In 2007, National Secretariat was established to perform necessary functions and fulfill the Advocacy purpose.
- Currently the Association has 880 PLHIV members from allover the country. (Registration is opened)
- National Forum held for fundraising in 2008.
- SOPs of the Association have been developed and approved.
- Association’s representation in CCM/GFATM and Asia-Pacific Network of People Living with HIV&AIDS (APN+) General Body.
- Participation of APLHIV member in AGM of the APN+ during 2008 and 2009.
- The Association has strong stake in the CCM/GFATM and technical input given in GF-round 9 proposal development.
- Recommendations devised and inculcated in the National Strategic Framework (NSF) document during review sessions through NACP.
- Executive Board members participated in Indian visit and Nepal workshop for capacity building and stigma index proposal development respectively.
- The Association has commenced the PLHIV-Stigma Index Project (research based) from 1st Jan. 2009, supporting by UNAIDS/IPPF.
- The Commission on AIDS in Asia Report Project (CAA Project) is being implemented by UNAIDS through purposeful partnership with the Association. It aims at to make sure the incorporation/mainstreaming of the key recommendations of the Commission Report into policy, planning and implementation process through mass awareness campaign, advocacy and policy dialogue from May 2009 to August 2010. In order to carry out the project in Pakistan three representatives, one from UNAIDS and two from communities/NGOs (member CCM and National Coordinator APLHIV), were invited for participation in three-day workshop in Bangkok during May 2009 to build their capacity and making country campaign plan for one. Likewise, the two Community Focal Persons are going to attend the ICAAP9 at Bali, Indonesia during first/second week of August 2009 to share the CAA Project progress and enhance the knowledge.
- National Volunteering Programme is going to be commenced from July/August 2009 to “promote PLHIV Volunteerism for their empowerment and leadership” through VSO-Pakistan.
- Proposals are being finalized for starting Home Based Voluntary Counseling and Testing (HBVCT) and “Institutional Development” projects through the Association.
- Formulation of fifteen years strategic plan is a priority area.
- The 2nd Executive Board Election to be held during August/September 2009 (expected).
- Association has a plan to open Provincial Chapters (Board and offices) in all provinces.
- Strategically reviewing of the National Strategic Framework (NSF), National HIV&AIDS Policy and other important documents of the NACP Government of Pakistan are also a key plan of the Association for making them more beneficiary & friendly.
- Increase membership as well as enhance the coordination and collaboration with regional and international coalitions, networks and organizations is also an objective of the Association.
- Furthermore, we are very committed to reinforce the partnership with the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and Provincial AIDS Control Programmes (PACPs) Government of Pakistan for fostering public private partnership for effective and efficient combating of the epidemic in Pakistan.
Apart from that the Association is carrying out some other activities as well under the supervision and support of the Executive Board, Advisory Board, UNAIDS and the Management for its strengthening, sustainability and development.
We all know well that without extending support from community, donors, INGOs, UN Agencies and public sector such organizations cannot achieve the desired results and outputs. So keeping in view, I request stakeholders to please extend maximum support from your esteemed organization to this network as it strives for a noble cause and contributes to achieve the UN MDGs, Universal Access as well as targets set by the Government of Pakistan in National Strategic Framework 2007-2011.