District AIDS Council meeting was held on 20-05-2025 at the Deputy Commissioner’s office (DC), Sheikhupura. The meeting started with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Later, participants introduced themselves. Participants were Mr Noman Ali (ADCG HQ), Sheikhupura,
DR Siddique (CEO- District Health Authority Sheikhupura), M.Tariq, Additional Director Social Welfare Sheikhupura, Dr Ayad Akhtar(DHO Health) CPS , DR M. Ghufram MO (Jail), Dr Maria (ART In-charge), Sarmad Mansoor (Representative CBO Organization), representative from MS DHQ Hospital Sheikhupura, Muhammad Majid Ali (ORS Nai Zindagi Trust, Sheikhupura) Akash Ali (SMZ, Nai Zindagi Trust, Sheikhupura), Abdul Manan (SMZ), Nai Zindagi Trust, Sheikhupura, Arslan Anwar HTC NZT (Sheikhupura), Ali Qasim, DEO (Nai Zindagi Trust, Sheikhupura) Muhammad Imran, Manager District Coordination (PR- Office Islamabad) Muhammad Shoaib Site Manager Nai Zindagi Sheikhupura.
The importance of the District AIDS Council (DAC) in Sheikhupura was later emphasized to the participants by the Manager District Coordination, Muhammad Imran. He highlighted the key agenda of DAC meeting for HIV/AIDS-related activities in the Shaikhupura context. He shared that DAC will help to disseminate knowledge and improve district level collaborations to address HIV/AIDS treatment and services. And it is acting as an advisory committee that is leading and sharing lessons learned for improving service delivery at the district level. Further it will help to bridge the gaps. It will also address field difficulties and coordinate to improve the referral mechanism.
During the meeting, the manager of district coordination provided details about NZT progress and how each PWID (People Who Inject Drugs) has been reached in Sheikhupura and further linked to ART Center. During the meeting, each performance indicator, including the actions that are performed, was also discussed.
CEO Health also shared the importance of coordination and further suggested including other organizations working on HIV in this important forum.
He further directed the DHO to conduct a coordination meeting and further incorporate other organizations to be a part of this forum and share the challenges and support needed.
Mr. Noman Ali (ADCG HQ) stated that the District Administration, along with the meeting participants, greatly appreciated the efforts of Nai Zindagi Trust (NZT) in addressing HIV in the district.
He further emphasized that all NGOs working on HIV in Sheikhupura should be included in the District AIDS Council (DAC) meetings to improve coordination and collective response.
It was also stated that the district administration would formally notify and engage local organizations to be part of this forum. This step will support the scanning of registered NZT clients and help in identifying and filling HIV testing gaps in the district.
DAC Meeting 20-5-2025 at Sheikhupura
