Challenges

Following are some of the key challenges faced in the field of HIV and AIDS in the Northern Areas:

·        Sustainability of the current initiatives of NAACC in the Northern Areas
·        Denial and Silence
·        Low understanding of the representatives of the Govt, NGOs and masses about the intensity and gravity of the issue
·        Stigma and Discrimination attached with the epidemic
·        Lack of any office of the International Donor Agencies and INGOs in the region
·        Limited financial resource allocation towards the issue in Northern Areas
 

Future Plans:

NAACC has following strategic plans to address the challenges and future sustainability of the issue in Northern Areas:

Inclusion of HIV and AIDS information in the education curriculum
·       Signing MoU, fostering Public Private Partnership and Private-Private Partnerships
·        Establishment and strengthening of NAACC Resource Centre
·        Fostering NAACC Volunteers Programme
·        Enhancing NAACC’s Membership
·        Initiating Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights interventions
·        Provision of On Line Information Services regarding the AIDS epidemic
·        Initiating AIDS prevention interventions at Sost Border
·        Working on Local Resource Mobilisation
·        Launching quarterly newsletter & journal
·        Initiating legislation on HIV and AIDS through Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA)
·        Fostering efforts for inclusion of the AIDS prevention programme in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) of Northern Areas
·        Mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS into developmental initiatives
·        Formation of Women Social Forum on AIDS (WSFA)
·        Initiating Monthly Radio Talks through Radio Pakistan Gilgit 
·        Arranging media forums through local newspapers on monthly basis
·        Conduct Social Mapping of the key vulnerable and risky groups of AIDS
·        Conducting direct interventions for IDUs, FSWs and MSM
·        Fostering effective and formal partnerships at regional level with Directorate of Population welfare, National Programme for Family Planning and Basic Health, extended programme for Immunisation (EPI) and President’s primary Health Care Initiative (PPHCI)
·        Initiating dialogues for signing MOUs and developing partnerships with China Govt
·        Strengthening efforts for mainstreaming Rights Based Approaches (RBA) focusing on Women Human Rights in HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control initiatives and interventions as well as development in FANA
·        Develop Partnerships with Northern Areas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NACCI)
·        Establishment of Drop In and VCT centres
·        Establishment of NAACC Care Home (NCH) for People Living With HIV and AIDS
·        Formation of Parliamentary Committee on infectious diseases in the region
·        Formation of Regional Core Group on AIDS (RCGA)
·        Organising workshops with Karakoram International University (KIU) Gilgit on quarterly and need basis
·        Develop partnerships with international NGOs (INGOs)
·        Initiation of emergency preparedness programmes for humanitarian assistance to mitigate losses from natural disasters