Mrs. Uzma Mukarram, Additional Deputy Commissioner (R & HR), chaired the 3rd District AIDS Council meeting at the DC Complex in Peshawar. The Meeting started with recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the introductions of the participants.
Other Participants were Mr. Sardar Ali Social Welfare Officer Peshawar,Dr. Feroz Shah Deputy DHO Peshawar DG Health,Dr. Muhammad Ali Khan LHW Coordinator DG Health,Mr. Javed Khan Progress Officer Local Governmemt Peshawar,Mr. Muhammad Imran Manager District Coordination NZ Islamabad,Mr. Shabbir Ahmad Provincial Coordinator NZ KP,Mr. Said Alam SM NZ Peshawar.
The participants were then briefed on the importance of the District AIDS Council (DAC) in Peshawar. Muhammad Imran, Manager of District Coordination, explained that, In DAC NZT officials will share the progress of Nai Zindagi (NZ) at the district level, as well as coordinate, address field-related issues, and strengthen the referral mechanism.
The progress of NZ was shared in detail with the meeting participants, along with the methodology for reaching each PWID (People Who Inject Drugs) in District Peshawar. Each indicator was discussed, including the work being done in the field for NSEP (Needle Syringe Exchange Program) services, HTC (HIV Testing and Counseling), social mobilization, and referrals to the AAU (Adherence Unit) .The spouse component was discussed in detail, as well as the Living Support Packages (LSP) for registered deserving spouses.
Field staff issues were also addressed. Mrs. Uzma Mukarram, ADC, assured that the district administration would fully support the activities of NZ at the district level, and that the police will facilitate NZT services.
The district administration, along with the participants, greatly appreciated the efforts of Nai Zindagi and Mrs. Uzma Mukarram, ADC (R & HR), particularly appreciated activities in the Central Prison Peshawar and NZT support for HIV clients during the ongoing Drug-Free Peshawar Phase-III initiative. It was decided that the district administration would regularly convene DAC meetings to facilitate PWIDs and ensure that these individuals are registered and tested at the district level.
