A milestone towards mainstreaming HIV & AIDS

By: Ishtiaq Ahmed Yaad
General Secretary,
NAACC, Gilgit

The Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) is situated at extreme North of Pakistan. Its borders mingle with the Republic of China having an estimated population of about 1.5 million people, stretching over an area of 72496 Sq. KMs. This region is directly under the administration of Federal Government.  Gilgit city is the capital of FANA about 600 KMs away from Islamabad, situated at the heart of Northern Areas. On the basis of its political segregation, FANA has been segregated in six districts including Gilgit, Ghizer, Diamer, Skardu, Ghanche and Astore. The terrain of the region is thoroughly gorgeous and famous for a rich biodiversity. World famous seven high peaks and Alpine-meadow forest make it a favorite place for tourists from allover the world. By Human Development Index(HDI) about 50% population is living below poverty line and almost 42% literacy rate as well as high rate of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) exists in the region. Generosity, naturalness, trustworthiness and patriotism are the characteristics of the inhabitants of this region. To overcome the social issues and to upgrade the living standard of people, numbers of Civil Society Organizations i.e. CBOs, NGOs, INGOs, LSOs, NGOs-Networks, UN-Agencies as well as GOs are indefinably playing a pivotal role as a supporter, facilitator, catalyst, donor and executer since a long with applying community development techniques.   
 
The Northern Areas AIDS Control Consortium (NAACC) is known as “NAIK”, it  means ‘a kind’ was established in 2002 and registered with Government in 2004 aiming at to control and prevent of spreading of deadly HIV and AIDS and other infectious diseases like Hepatitis B & C in FANA. NAACC is providing effective services in preventing of HIV and AIDS for last six years on self-help basis. Deliberately from January 2004, NAACC is implementing a four-year Capacity Building project with special focus on Good Governance, gross roots interventions and rights based approach (RBA) in FANA alongside the financial assistance of EC and DFID and technical assistance of Interact Worldwide (IWW) UK. Currently 32 NGOs/CSOs from entire region are members of this consortium. NAACC is a well-reputed and well-esteemed representative of AIDS network in the region having legitimacy, accountability, transparency, meritocracy and gender & rights based (RBA) and integrated & holistic approaches at gross roots, program as well as strategic levels.
 
In FANA only few HIV cases have been registered so far, but according to an estimate by NAACC there are around 200 HIV and AIDS cases exist in this region. Although the prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS is low, but due to the high-risky behaviors having by the vulnerable groups i.e. Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs), Men having Sex with Men (MSM), Female Sex Workers (FSWs), border traders (trade with China), tourists guides/porters, long distance drivers, migrants, mobile workers, out of school youth and street youth, there are immense chances for spreading of HIV and AIDS in Northern Areas. Besides, world’s second highest prevalent country India is neighbor of this region, which has 50 million estimated HIV and AIDS cases (world’s about 10% out of total HIV and AIDS cases). The Republic of China is also neighbor of this area and more than 4000 people of Northern Areas, especially youth are engaged in business and trade activities with China. The prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in this country is high because people of the country having high risky behaviors. According to a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) jointly took place by PNAC Pakistan, IWP and NAACC with border traders at Sost near Khunjarab Pass that a large number of border traders visiting from Northern Areas are indulged in unsafe sexual practices in different cities of China. Moreover, annually thousands of International tourists are coming from allover the world in Northern Areas for expedition, hiking, tracking, mountaineering, ice-climbing, rock-climbing, picnics and tourism. Reliable sources say that the tour operators, tourist guides, porters and hoteliers are indulged in unsafe sexual practices with these tourists as well, which can also be a cause for transmission of HIV and AIDS in this region. Due to low rate of education, ignorance, poverty, social taboos, gender discrimination, fatalism & superstition, no access to information, shortage of standard health facilities and practicing of quakes, majority of people of Northern Areas are unaware of the vulnerabilities of unsafe practices i.e. using of unscreened blood, contaminated syringes, blades, dental equipments, surgeries related equipments and unsafe sex, which are also high risks for transmission of HIV and other infections. Keeping in view the aforementioned vulnerabilities and high risky behaviors having by the people of this region, NAACC has been established in the right time and implementing integrated and appropriate interventions first time in the history of Northern Areas to prevent the area from deadly disease of HIV and AIDS.
 
NAACC is mainly working on enhancing networking, advocacy, public private partnership (PPP), resource mobilization, good governance, capacity building, institutional development, behavior change communication (BCC) and interpersonal communication (IPC), peer education, awareness raising & sensitization, mass media campaign, gross roots interventions, developing HIV & AIDS leadership, treatment’ care & support of People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWAs), research, and mainstreaming HIV & AIDS in all sectors especially inculcating it in education curriculum in FANA.
 
As result of above-mentioned progress and effective advocacy and partnership developed with Northern Areas Police Department (NAPD) and providing of technical support by NAACC during last two years the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Northern Areas Mr. Sarmad Saeed Khan has formally notified following key decisions for HIV and AIDS prevention among Police force in FANA.
 
A compulsory question on HIV and AIDS will be asked from candidates in all test and interviews for police recruitment in FANA from January 2007 to onward.
 
A chapter on the subject of HIV and AIDS has been inculcated in the course of initial training for newly inducted policemen in Police Recruitment and Training Center (PRTC), Gilgit from January 2007.
 
A compulsory question on HIV and AIDS has been included in A-List Test and B-List Test for promotion of Police officials in Northern Areas Police Department from January 2007 to onward.
 
We, on behalf of NAACC, acknowledge the commitment of Mr. Sarmad Saeed who is highly professional and dedicated civil servant in Pakistan regarding this remarkable accomplishment.
 
Apart from aforesaid key initiatives a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NAACC and NAPD has been formally signed for complement, assist and support each other in preventing of HIV and AIDS among Police Officials in FANA.
 
As consequence of these concrete steps jointly taken by NAACC and NAPD, thousands of Policemen and masses will be sensitized and aware of HIV and AIDS prevention and control in FANA. Likewise, this is a milestone towards mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in FANA and an exceptional example of Public Private Partnership as well as effective advocacy in Pakistan especially in the field of HIV and AIDS. Nonetheless, NAACC has a plan in its fifteen-year Strategic Document to mainstream HIV and AIDS in all development initiatives especially inculcating it in Education Curriculum through Northern Areas Education Department GOP in near future in FANA.

(For further information please contact on: ishtiaq@naacc.pnac.net.pk, Ph. +92-5811-55980, 51689 or visit: www.naacc.org.pk)