Meeting was held between Mr. Mirza Nasir-ud-din Mashud, the Special Secretary M/o NHSR&C and UNAIDS new posted Country Director for Pakistan & Afghanistan Mr. Trouble Chikoko. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Rajwal Khan, Strategic Information Advisor for UNAIDS Pakistan. The chair acknowledged and appreciated UNAIDS’ crucial contributions to HIV interventions and responses nationwide, and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting UNAIDS in the ongoing battle against HIV.
The UNAIDS Country Director for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Mr. Trouble Chikoko, met with the National Coordinator of the Common Management Unit (CMU) and team to strengthen HIV response efforts in Pakistan. The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration between UNAIDS and CMU to address the HIV epidemic more effectively. Key discussion points included improving prevention, treatment, and care services, optimizing resource allocation, and engaging with key populations at risk. Both sides emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to align with national health goals and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS by 2030 through more targeted and impactful interventions.
In a significant step towards improving tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and management in Pakistan, Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, recently held a pivotal meeting with representatives from Becton Dickinson (BD) Singapore, ASTO Life Sciences (Pvt) Limited, and the technical team of the Common Management Unit for AIDS, TB & Malaria. The meeting was focused on discussing the integration of WHO-endorsed BD-MAX diagnostic technology into Pakistan’s TB diagnostic landscape, with a special emphasis on addressing multidrug-resistant TB.
Commissioner HQ Mr. Shakeel Muhammad Khan Safi and Director Mr. Muhammad Zakirullah met with CMU Team to discuss TB care for Afghan refugees. Since 2019, CMU, under a Global Fund grant (MCG), has screened 468,878 refugees across 45 Afghan Refugee Villages in Pakistan. Of those screened, 46,996 were identified as presumptive TB cases, with 4,196 diagnosed and treated. The project, implemented in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, highlights successful collaboration among various stakeholders, ensuring comprehensive TB care for refugees.
The National HIV Technical Writing Group held a meeting on August 17, 2024, focused on Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission (PPTCT) and Paediatric ART. Key stakeholders discussed strategies to enhance HIV prevention and treatment services, aiming to improve health outcomes for children and families affected by HIV across the nation.
National Coordinator CMU chaired the National Steering Committee meeting for the Insecticides Treated Nets (ITNs) Campaign 2024. Participants included Provincial Programme Managers, Dr. Qutubudin Kakar from WHO, Dr. Arif Munir (TWG member), and all campaign stakeholders, highlighting collaborative efforts for a successful campaign.
The National Coordinator CMU visited Active Help, an organization dedicated to community-based interventions for key populations. This visit emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing public health challenges and reinforced the commitment to supporting vulnerable communities through targeted health initiatives and interventions.
The National Coordinator CMU met with the Additional Secretary Punjab and TB Programme Manager to discuss the interoperability between HISDU and CMU surveillance systems for TB and HIV. The Punjab team expressed their willingness to support this initiative, marking a significant step towards enhanced data integration and public health management.
The IPCM was held at the Avari Hotel Lahore on the 1st and 2nd of August 2024, hosted by the Punjab AIDS Control Program. The event was attended by representatives from ACPs, CMU, Federal agencies, UNDP, UNAIDS, UNODC, WHO, Nai Zindagi Trust, and various CBOs. Notable participants included Dr. Razia Fatima , NC CMU; Deputy Director of CDC General Sindh, Dr. Zulfiqar Darejho; Dr. Rajwal, Strategic Head UNAIDS; and Heather Doyle, UNDP Country Representative. During the meeting, all participants shared their issues, progress, and plans for the way forward.
