NAACC Election Report

Brief Introduction of NAACC:

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 along with PNAC is implementing a four-year TAMEER PROJECT with special focus on Good Governance, gross roots interventions, capacity building and rights based approach (RBA) entitled      “Building up Rights Based Approaches to HIV/AIDS in Pakistan; A National Civil Society Capacity Building Project”

with 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 AIDS network in the region having legitimacy, accountability, transparency, meritocracy and gender & rights based (RBA) and integrated & holistic approaches at gross roots and program as well as strategic levels.

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.

NAACC Election 2007:

The Northern Areas AIDS Control Consortium (NAACC) has conducted its Board of Directors elections on April 10, 2007 as per schedule. The process begun with the name of almighty Allah at 10:30 Am. Mr. Manzoor Hussain Kacho, Project Director Family Planning Association Pakistan (FPAP), Northern Areas performed as the Election Commissioner while Dr. Ejaz Tehseen representing NAACC Regional Advisory Group performed as the member of Election Commission.

There were two contestants for the position of the General Secretary while all other positions were unopposed. During the election session one of the contester withdrew himself from the position of General Secretary and therefore all seven NAACC Board Members had been elected unopposed for the next two years. Attendance in the election remained more then 80%.

The Election Commissioner announced the result of the elections through written notification. As per the election result Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Khan President, Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmed General Secretary, Mr. Sultan Khan Regional Coordinator, Mr. Kashif Amin Finance Secretary, Ms. Tai Saleem Executive Member, Mr. Muhibbuddin Executive Member and Mr. Zeeshan Ejaz were elected for the period of two years till April 2009.

Election Commissioner then delivered a brief speech on the occasion. In his speech the Election Commissioner Mr. Manzoor Hussain Kacho appreciated the active and meaningful participation of the representatives of the NAACC member NGOs (GB) in the election process. He also admired the efforts of NAACC Management for all the necessary arrangements made for the event. He further stressed all the participants of the session representing the all six districts of the region to enhance the awareness raising activities on AIDS through participatory and self help approaches. He also suggested incorporating the information on prevention of other infectious disease such as Hepatitis B and C in addition to fighting against HIV/AIDS.

Dr Ejaz Tehseen member Election Commission also spoke at the occasion. In his speech he appreciated the tremendous efforts of the Northern Areas AIDS Control Consortium made so far for prevention of the epidemic in the region. He added that the election process was very peaceful and that all participants contributed to enabling environment on the occasion. He congratulated all the newly elected Board members of NAACC.

Professor Ismail, the independent Observer of the NAACC elections and Member of PNAC Presidium also spoke to the occasion. He thanked all the participants for their active participation and valuable comments provided during the entire session. He appreciated election commission and organizers for holding open, free, fair and transparent elections well in time. He admired the active and productive role of Mr. Ejaz Ahmed Khan and Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmed which they have played in the past and anticipated more active and meaningful representation of NAACC at national and international levels in the future too.

After speeches of the distinguished guest then newly Board members also addressed the participants. In their speeches the Directors thanked all the participants for electing them for the next two years. They also ensured to extend their full commitment and cooperation to take the NAACC forward with new zeal and zest. Finally the session ended with vote of thanks to Election Commission, PNAC, IWP, EC, DFID, NAACC/PACP, Prof. Ismail Member PNAC Presidium/Independent Observer by Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmed General Secretary NAACC with an announcement of a social get together in the evening of same day.

Social Evening & Celebrations:

The NAACC board and Management as per schedule arranged the social evening in the same hotel on April 10, 2007. In this evening more than 60 people participated including NAACC General Body Members. The dinner started at 8:00PM and after that the social activity started with the voice of the local musicians and artists. In this activity besides the representatives of the NAACC member NGOs, Staff and Board of Directors; many other distinguished guests also participated in the social event. Mr. Inayat Ullah Shimali Chairman Gilgit Baltistan National Alliance, Dr. Muzzaffar Ali Relay Member Northern Areas legislative Council, One senior army official and number of local renowned poets and scholars also participated.

At the closing of the social evening Mr. Inayat Ullah Shimali the Chief Guest delivered a speech. He congratulated all the newly elected members of NAACC Board and thanked NAACC Staff and Executive Board members for inviting him in such a productive and social evening. He appreciated the efforts of the NAACC in the region for fight against HIV and AIDS. He ensured to extend NAACC Team all his possible moral, political and social support to further enhance the outreach and capacity of NAACC in the efforts made for fight against AIDS in Northern Areas in future. General Secretary NAACC performed as compare in this social event.

The NAACC Elections 2007-Day thus concluded at 11:00 Pm.