The inaugural District AIDS Council meeting was held on 27-11-2024 at District Council Mansehra. The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, and the introduction of the participants came next. Participants were Mrs. Hajra Sami, ADC (R&HR) Mansehra, Mr. Syed Sabir Shah District Officer Social Welfare Mansehra, Dr. Shah Faisal DHO Mansehra DG Health, Dr. Mehnaz Gul LHW Coordinator DG Health, Mrs. Gul Nargis RHC Darband Health Department KP, Mr. Muhammad Imran Manager District Coordination NZ Islamabad, Mr. Shabbir Ahmad, Provincial Coordinator NZ KP, and Mr. Kamran AAA NZ Mansehra.
Manager of District Coordination, Muhammad Imran, explained primary function of the DAC and shared that DAC will work as an advisory council of HIV/AIDS-related activities in Mansehra. DAC will contribute to improve collaborations at district levels to cater the HIV/AIDS treatment. It will also respond to field challenges and support to enhance the referral system.
During the meeting, the manager of District coordination also gave detailed accounts of the progress of NZ and how each PWID (People Who Inject Drugs) is planned to be reached within Mansehra. During the meeting, each performance indicator, including the activities that are being carried out in the area, was also discussed.
Mrs. Hajra Sami, ADC, assured that, district administration will support activities of NZ at the district level and that the police will also facilitate NZ services.
District administration, along with the participants, highly appreciated the efforts put in by Nai Zindagi and Mrs. Hajra Sami, ADC (R & HR), especially appreciated efforts in the Central Prison Mansehra. It was also mentioned that the district administration would inform the local organizations regarding the locations where PWID are kept. This will be helpful in the scanning of registered NZ clients and addressing testing gaps.
The District Health Officer, Dr. Faisal, requested that a generalized scanning of the populations and shared that is the need of the hour. He asked that the LHW program can support the cause of Nai Zindagi if trained on HIV/AIDS for a referral mechanism.
The District Officer of Social Welfare also requested scanning of drug-related people in local drug rehab centers. And for the said purpose, a meeting of the local drug rehab centers will be convened to update them about the services of Nai Zindagi.
