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COMMON MANAGEMENT UNIT
AIDS, TB & MALARIA
Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination
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JOINT PROGRAMME REVIEW MISSION (JPRM) 2025 PAKISTAN

The Common Management Unit for AIDS, TB and Malaria, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, successfully conducted the Joint Programme Review Mission (JPRM) 2025 to evaluate progress, identify implementation gaps, and strengthen strategic direction across the National TB Control programme.
In preparation for the Mission, the CMU convened a series of three webinars, including an administrative orientation and two technical sessions featuring provincial, regional and partner presentations. These engagements ensured methodological consistency and a shared understanding of the Mission’s objectives.
This was followed by the Inception Meeting held on 25 November 2025, attended by international reviewers, national experts, development partners, and provincial programmes joining online.
The Mission was lead by Dr. Muhammad Akhtar, JPRM Lead technical consultant.
Subsequently, multidisciplinary review teams conducted field visits across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory, engaging with health facilities, laboratories, communities, programme managers, and implementing partners. These visits focused on assessing service delivery performance, governance, surveillance systems, supply chain management, and community-led responses in line with national strategic priorities.
The Mission concluded with a high-level debriefing at the M/o NHSR&C with national and provincial programs and partners, where key findings, priority recommendations, and strategic actions were presented to guide programmatic improvements and inform the upcoming national planning cycle.The CMU acknowledges the invaluable contributions of all reviewers, partners, and provincial/area programmes for their leadership and collaboration throughout the JPRM 2025. The insights generated will play a pivotal role in strengthening Pakistan’s response to TB in the years ahead.
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CMU Hosts Parliamentary Secretary for High-Level Program Review Meeting

On 4th December 2025 Parliament Secretary Mr. Nelson Azeem visited the Common Management Unit (CMU) and held discussions with key officials, including DNC Dr. Abdul Wali Khan, Dr. Bilal Ahmed, Dr. Faisal Siraj, Dr. Ahmed Ismail, Dr. Abdul Raheem, and Dr. Seema Saifuddin. The meeting focused on reviewing program progress and achievements, addressing challenges and obstacles, and outlining future plans and strategies.

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Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.

On the occasion of World AIDS Day, Common Management Unit (CMU) for AIDS, TB & Malaria, in collaboration with WHO and UNAIDS, organised a World AIDS Day Awareness Walk on 1st December 2025 under the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”
The walk brought together partners, stakeholders, and community members to show solidarity and highlight Pakistan’s commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. Senior officials, including the Director General Health (Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination), the Deputy National Coordinator-CMU, the WHO Representative (WR), and the UNAIDS Country Representative, joined the event, reaffirming strong leadership and support for the national HIV response and to urge collective and individual action against a public health threat affecting 350,000 people in Pakistan – 80% of whom are unaware of their HIV status.

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World AIDS Day 2025: Rebuilding Commitment, Rethinking Approaches, Rising Together

Introduction

World AIDS Day 2025 marks a critical moment for global reflection and reaffirmation of our collective commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat. Despite major advances over the past decades, many people still face disruptions in accessing prevention, treatment and support services. The World Health Organization’s 2025 call to action reminds us of the urgency to overcome service gaps, strengthen health systems, and place human rights at the centre of the response. This year’s focus inspires us to rebuild, rethink and rise together so that no individual or community is left behind.

Rebuilding Health Systems and Access to Care

Across many regions, persistent inequalities, funding limitations and service disruptions continue to affect timely access to HIV testing, treatment and prevention. Rebuilding requires strong, community-rooted health systems that can deliver reliable care even during crises. Integrated programmes that link HIV, STI, hepatitis and maternal health services are essential for sustained progress. Durable financing, committed leadership and coordinated action remain key to ensuring that individuals and communities receive consistent, high-quality care.

Pakistan’s Progress Through CMU and the Global Fund Partnership

In Pakistan, the Common Management Unit (CMU) for Global Fund (HIV/AIDS, TB & Malaria), under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination along with key partners like WHO, UNAIDS, APLHIV, UNDP, UNICEF, UNODC, and USAID along with provincial partners, has played a central role in strengthening the national HIV response. Through well-coordinated provincial and federal efforts, Pakistan has expanded HIV testing and treatment centres, improved access to ARVs, strengthened surveillance systems, and enhanced community outreach. The partnership has also supported innovative digital health tools, better data-driven decision-making, and the integration of HIV services within wider public health programmes. This collective commitment demonstrates how strong governance, sustained donor support and technical expertise can transform the national response and ensure continuity of essential services.

Rethinking the HIV Response With Innovation and Inclusion

The global call to expand self-testing, digital tools and community-based service delivery reflects a growing shift toward more accessible and inclusive HIV programming. Rethinking also means removing structural barriers such as stigma, discrimination, gender inequality and criminalization of certain behaviours, which often prevent people from seeking care. Transforming the HIV response requires policies that protect dignity, confidentiality and equity. When communities are empowered as partners, innovation becomes meaningful and impactful.

Rising Against Stigma and Social Inequalities

Stigma remains one of the most significant obstacles to ending AIDS. People living with HIV still encounter judgement, fear and exclusion in healthcare facilities, schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods. Rising against stigma involves promoting accurate information, building compassion and ensuring that every person receives respect and confidentiality. A supportive, stigma-free environment encourages individuals to test early, adhere to treatment and participate fully in daily life. Ending stigma is essential for both individual wellbeing and national progress.

A Shared Responsibility Toward an AIDS-Free Future

World AIDS Day 2025 is a reminder that progress depends on collective action. Governments must continue prioritizing resilient health systems, civil society must amplify the voices of affected communities and individuals must commit to compassion, respect and understanding. Ending AIDS requires a united approach grounded in justice, inclusion and solidarity. The values of rebuilding, rethinking and rising together provide a pathway toward a future where prevention, treatment and care are accessible for all.

Conclusion

As the world reflects on the milestones and remaining challenges of the HIV response, the message of World AIDS Day 2025 is clear: disruptions must not determine our future. With strengthened systems, innovative strategies and continued collaboration between national institutions like CMU, global partners such as the Global Fund, and communities across Pakistan, an AIDS-free generation is possible. Let this day remind us of our responsibility to safeguard health, dignity and equality for every person. Together, we can rebuild awareness, rethink harmful norms and rise toward a stronger, more inclusive future.
#RebuildRethinkRise #OvercomingDisruption

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Breaking the Silence: Why Ending HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination Matters More Than Ever

Stigma surrounding HIV remains one of the most persistent challenges in public health. Although medical advancements have transformed HIV into a manageable condition, social attitudes have not progressed at the same pace. Fear, misinformation, and negative perceptions continue to shape how individuals living with HIV are treated in their families, communities, workplaces, and even schools. These misconceptions create barriers that prevent people from seeking care, adhering to treatment, or feeling safe enough to speak about their needs. Addressing stigma is not simply a matter of awareness, but a crucial step in protecting health, dignity, and human rights.

Many individuals living with HIV face unfair treatment in their daily lives. They may encounter judgmental attitudes in healthcare settings, hesitation from service providers, or exclusion from essential support systems. In some cases, people are refused services, spoken to harshly, or treated as though they pose a risk to others, even though HIV does not spread through casual contact, sharing food, or normal social interactions. Such behaviour reinforces fear and discourages people from seeking timely testing and care. Upholding privacy, confidentiality, and respectful conduct is essential for ensuring dignified treatment and equal access for all.

Children living with HIV are particularly vulnerable to stigma. They often struggle with isolation, confusion, or reduced support when teachers, peers, or adults around them lack correct information. Some children may find themselves excluded from play or classroom activities due to unfounded fears about transmission. Others face practical challenges, such as long travel distances to treatment facilities or limited emotional support within their communities. In contrast, when families, schools, and neighbours provide encouragement and inclusion, children thrive. They remain engaged in school, social activities, and treatment, reinforcing how supportive environments shape better outcomes.

Another critical aspect of improving the lives of people living with HIV is ensuring consistent treatment adherence. Antiretroviral therapy, when taken regularly, reduces the viral load to undetectable levels and allows individuals to lead long, healthy lives. However, stigma often disrupts adherence. People may hide their medication, skip doses due to shame, or avoid visiting health centres because they fear being recognised or judged. Creating supportive spaces, offering counselling, and encouraging open communication empower individuals to follow their treatment confidently and consistently.

Ultimately, stigma causes more harm than the condition itself. It isolates individuals, damages mental and emotional wellbeing, and undermines public health goals by pushing people away from services. Ending stigma requires collective action. Families, teachers, healthcare workers, community members, and leaders must work together to promote accurate knowledge, show compassion, and uphold the rights of every person, regardless of HIV status. When communities reject discrimination and embrace supportive, informed attitudes, people living with HIV are better able to access care, maintain treatment, and live full, dignified lives.

HIV is a manageable health condition, but stigma remains a significant obstacle that continues to harm individuals and weaken the national response. By fostering understanding, empathy, and respect, society can create an environment where every person feels safe, valued, and supported. Reducing stigma is essential for improving quality of life, strengthening public health efforts, and moving closer to the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat. A future free from discrimination begins with informed, compassionate communities.

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HIV Frequently Asked Questions – Key Facts for Awareness

Understanding HIV is the first step toward prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment. The FAQs provide clear guidance on how HIV spreads, how it can be prevented, symptoms to watch for, available testing services, and the importance of timely antiretroviral therapy. They also address stigma, children’s care needs, and common misconceptions, ensuring communities receive accurate, reliable information to stay protected and support those living with HIV.

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HIV Treatment: A Proven and Life-Saving Intervention

Timely HIV testing and initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) enable individuals to lead long, productive lives while significantly reducing the risk of transmission. Free, confidential treatment and counselling are available across public health facilities in Pakistan, ensuring that every person receives dignified, evidence-based care. Strengthening adherence and reducing stigma remain essential to achieving national HIV prevention and treatment goals.
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Rebuild, Rethink, Rise: Strengthening HIV Prevention

On World AIDS Day 2025, we reaffirm that HIV prevention is simple, effective and life-saving. Strengthening safe practices such as using sterile injections, ensuring certified blood, accessing PrEP and PEP, and rejecting harmful myths can significantly reduce transmission. HIV does not spread through casual contact, and informed communities remain protected. By rebuilding awareness, rethinking risky behaviours and rising together with compassion and responsibility, we can overcome disruption, close prevention gaps and move Pakistan closer to ending HIV.

Understanding How HIV Spreads

Why One Needle, One Syringe, One Time Matters

HIV spreads only through specific routes such as unsafe injections, infected blood, shared needles and mother-to-child transmission. Prevention becomes possible when people know the real risks. HIV does not spread through touch, shared food or daily interactions. Clear understanding reduces fear, corrects misconceptions and forms the foundation of effective prevention.

Prevention Through PrEP: Protection Before Exposure

Unsafe injections remain a major driver of HIV. Once a needle or syringe is used, it becomes contaminated, even if blood is not visible. Reusing any injection equipment can transmit HIV and other infections. One needle, one syringe, one time is the simplest, most effective rule for zero transmission.

Prioritising Health With PrEP

PrEP is a safe and highly effective medicine that protects people at risk before exposure to HIV. When taken consistently, it significantly reduces the chance of infection. Making PrEP accessible and widely understood empowers individuals to safeguard their health and strengthens the national effort to prevent new HIV cases.

Addressing HIV as a Silent Threat

Placing health first means using every available prevention tool. PrEP is one of the strongest protections for people who may be exposed to HIV. When taken as recommended, it prevents infection and supports healthier futures. Awareness and informed choices help reduce new infections and keep communities protected.

Knowing the Difference Between PrEP and PEP

HIV often progresses silently, making prevention even more essential. PrEP provides proactive protection for those at risk. By increasing community awareness and normalising PrEP, we can reduce stigma, prevent infection and empower individuals to take control of their health before the virus ever has a chance to cause harm.

PrEP Makes Life Safer and Healthier

PrEP protects before exposure, while PEP is used after possible exposure and must begin within 72 hours. Understanding the difference helps people act quickly and appropriately. Both medicines are effective when used correctly, making timely action and awareness key to preventing HIV transmission and protecting individuals and communities.
When taken as advised, PrEP lowers HIV risk and allows people to live with greater confidence and safety. Promoting PrEP awareness nationwide strengthens prevention, reduces new infections and empowers individuals to protect both themselves and their loved ones. Prevention today leads to healthier communities tomorrow.

As Pakistan strives to strengthen its HIV response, prevention remains our most powerful tool. By rebuilding awareness with accurate information, rethinking harmful practices like unsafe injections and stigma, and rising together through compassion and responsible action, we can overcome disruption in health services and societal attitudes. A united, prevention-focused approach brings us closer to ending HIV for future generations.

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DG Health Launches National Social Media Campaign for World AIDS Day 2025

DG Health Launches National Social Media Campaign for World AIDS Day 2025
Islamabad, 28 November 2025 — The Common Management Unit for AIDS, TB & Malaria (CMU) – National AIDS Control Program (NACP), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination in collaboration with UNAIDS officially launched its Social Media Campaign today in connection with the upcoming World AIDS Day 2025.
The campaign was formally inaugurated by Prof Dr Ayesha Isani Majeed (PHD Public Health) Director General Health Services, Ministry of NHSR&C, at a ceremony held at the DG Health Office, Kohsar Block, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad. The event brought together key partners and stakeholders committed to accelerating national efforts to end AIDS.
Representatives from UNAIDS, UNICEF, APLHIV and WHO attended the launch, reaffirming their collective support for enhanced awareness, prevention, and response initiatives across Pakistan.
Speaking at the event, Prof Dr Ayesha Isani Majeed emphasized the crucial role of strategic communication in combating stigma, promoting testing and treatment, and engaging communities. She highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening HIV prevention and control measures nationwide.
The Social Media Campaign aims to amplify public awareness leading up to World AIDS Day 2025, focusing on empowering communities, promoting early testing, and encouraging adherence to treatment for people living with HIV.
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High-Level Bilateral Engagements at The Union Conference, Copenhagen

High-Level Bilateral Engagements at The Union Conference, Copenhagen
Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Special Secretary at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (MoNHSRC), under the vision of Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, MoNHSR&C held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the side-lines of The Union Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
He engaged with:
  • Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director, Global TB Programme, WHO Headquarters
  • Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director, Stop TB Partnership (STP)
  • Professor Guy Marks, President, The Union Geneva
The discussions, attended by Dr. Abdul Wali Khan, Deputy National Coordinator-CMU, Dr. Karam Shah, Senior Technical Advisor, Dopasi Foundation and Mr. Zaher Ahmed, Chief Finance Officer-CMU focused on strengthening collaboration for TB control and lung health initiatives.
These strategic engagements underscore Pakistan’s commitment to global TB partnerships and advancing lung health.

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