FACING HIV & AIDS TOGETHER

Concern Pakistan will prevent and mitigate impact of the infection and disease via the mainstreaming approach and will support established and developing HIV/AIDS networks in its target areas to raise awareness and of prevention and control of HIV/AIDS for resource mobilization and implementation.

Introduction of BAN:

“The vision of BAN is the Prevention of HIV/AIDS/STIs, & to work for Reproductive Health related issues”

The Balochistan AIDS Network (BAN) was established in Quetta in2000 with the help of National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Provincial AIDS Control Program (PACP) and UNAIDS, NGOs working for prevention of HIV/AIDS in Balochistan, to fight against the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. BAN has been working from 2001 to 2003 on volunteer basis by conducting seminars and workshop on HIV/AIDS, as well as organising World AIDS Day. In 2004 European Commission and Department of International Development, UK has funded a project to fight against HIV/AIDS in Pakistan known as “Building of right based approaches to HIV/AIDS in Pakistan, a National Civil Society Capacity Building project (TAMEER). The funding was awarded to Interact Worldwide, UK who further established linkages with the HIV/AIDS Consortia of Pakistan to implement this project. TAMEER project is being implemented in Pakistan through Pakistan National AIDS Consortium (PNAC), Balochistan AIDS Network (BAN), Sindh NGO’s Network on HIV/AIDS (SANNA), Punjab AIDS Consortium (PAC) Northern AIDS Consortium (NAC) and Northern Area AIDS Control Consortium (NAACC).

BAN has been working with PLWHA, IDUS, FSWs / MSWs, out of school youth, fishermen, Jail inmates, Hijras either directly or through its member organization.

Objectives:

 To strengthen the programme of civil society organization which is working for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, STIs and reproductive health     related issues in Balochistan through capacity building
 Coordination, information sharing ,reach ,capacity building of Member NGO’s and small grant programmes for member NGO’s
 To streamline the resource with mutual coordination of members.
 Establishment of Resource centre in all district of Balochistan
 Establishment of voluntarily counselling and testing centre in all district of Balochistan
 Support services to PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS,


The first case of AIDS in a Pakistani citizen was reported in 1987 in Lahore. During the late 1980s and 1990s, it became evident that an increasing number of Pakistanis, mostly men, were becoming infected with HIV while living or travelling abroad. Upon their return to Pakistan, some of these men subsequently infected their wives who, in some cases, passed along the infection to their children. In 1993, the first recognised transmission of HIV infection through breastfeeding in Pakistan was reported in the city of Rawalpindi. During the 1990s, cases of HIV and AIDS began to appear among groups such as commercial sex workers (CSWs), drug abusers and jail inmates. The increased rates of infection among these groups are assumed to have facilitated, at least to some extent, a further dissemination of HIV into the general population.
While HIV prevalence appears to be low (less than 0.1%) in Pakistan at present, the presence of a number of vulnerabilities and risky behavioural patterns suggest the need for urgent, prioritized, and coordinated action to curtail the emergence of a widespread epidemic. Poverty, genders inequalities and low levels of education and literacy all contribute to HIV vulnerability in Pakistan. Other, related factors that can increase vulnerability at the individual level include unemployment, social exclusion or marginalisation, physical and/or mental abuse, and gender-based discrimination.

HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in many parts of the country. Providing education regarding HIV/AIDS is not only important, but is essential. Helping people learn the skills to discuss the issues and make decision to protect their health provides them with important options that may ultimately save their lives.

This training was designed to raise awareness through BAN Partner NGOs in the communities about HIV/AIDS, to challenge participants to take action against the spread of HIV infections and to encourage a positive, caring response towards those positively living with HIV/AIDS.

An effective adult education learning activities and procedures specifically designed for trainers, supervisors and field staff to facilitate locally relevant sessions in a group based setting. The materials could be adapted to local context within communities.


Mr. Noman Qazi (Programme Officer BAN) gave a brief introduction of BAN and also highlighted the importance of this training and welcomed the participants; then emphasised the importance of HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Adil Sheraz (Provincial Manager, BAN) ensured that all cooperation would be extended to the participants on behalf of the management of BAN and also thanked Dr. Farrukh Hasnie and Mrs. Saeeda Manan for facilitating the workshop.

Subsequently Mrs. Saeeda Manan (Facilitator, BAN) welcomed all the participants and said that now is the time that organizations come together as partners and fight against this epidemic; she also highlighted the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Islamic perspective and said that to save one human being means that one has saved the entire humanity.

Then Dr Farrukh Hasnie (Primary Health Care Advisor, Concern) said that this training is designed with BAN keeping in view the capacity building component of the local organizations that are affiliated with BAN and are working for this imperative cause of fighting this disastrous epidemic of HIV/AIDS, he also added that this training would be participatory and questions on behalf of the participants would always be welcomed

Mr. Sirbuland Khan Jogezai (Chairman BAN) said that the first training was designed with the support of Concern World Wide Pakistan Programme for the partner organizations of BAN. He also highlighted the importance that on the grassroots level organizations need to do a lot of work so that the communities become aware of this epidemic. Moreover he appreciated the participation of the out station partner organizations and also the local organizations.