The fourth meeting of the District AIDS Council (DAC) was convened under the chairmanship of Mrs. Shawana Haleem, ADC (General). The session began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a round of introductions from all attendees. Participants were ,Mrs. Shawana Haleem AGC (General), Peshawar,Dr. Anthony Alamzeb Public Health Coordinator DHO Office Peshawar,Mr. Wajid Ali DSP HQs Peshawar,Mr. Asim Khan PS/ADC (R& HR),Mr. Arshad Naseer LGRD Deptt Peshawar, Mr. Adnan Ahmad ORS NZ Peshawar,Mr. Waqar AD LG & RD Deptt Peshawar,Mr. Said Alam SMZ NZ Peshawar
The Social Organizer and Out-reach Supervisor (NZ) provided a detailed briefing on the role and significance of DAC in Peshawar. It was emphasized that the DAC will function as an advisory and consultative forum to support and oversee HIV/AIDS-related activities at the district level. The council aims to ensure coordination among stakeholders, address field level challenges, and strengthen referral systems for people who inject drugs (PWIDs).
An extensive overview of Nai Zindagi’s progress and intervention strategies was presented, outlining outreach efforts across District Peshawar. Each service indicator was discussed, including, Needle and Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP), HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC), Social Mobilization ,Referrals to the ARVs Adherence Unit (AAU) for residential detoxification, rehabilitation, and ARV initiation.
The meeting also reviewed the spouse support component, including the provision of HTC and ARVs services at door step for registered spouses of clients.
Key field challenges faced by NZ staff were discussed. In response, Mrs. Shawana Haleem ADC -Peshawar assured full support from the district administration, including coordination with police authorities to facilitate smooth implementation of NZ services.
The contributions of Nai Zindagi were highly appreciated by the district administration and meeting participants.
It was also agreed that local organizations would be informed about the locations where Drug Users (DUs)/Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) are facilitated regarding rehab by the district administration. This will help NZ to reach and screen their registered clients, ensuring testing gaps are effectively addressed.
Furthermore, Mrs. Shawana assured that the district administration will fully support the services NZ at Central Jail Peshawar.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from the district administration to convene DAC meetings on a regular basis, with the objective of strengthening services for PWIDs, ensuring registration, testing, and referral at the district level.
DAC Meeting 23-6-2025 at Peshawar
