Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Health established National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in 1986-87. In its early stages, the Programme focused on laboratory diagnosis of suspected HIV cases, but progressively it began to shift its focus towards HIV prevention and control interventions. The development of National Strategic Framework-one in 2001 provided strategic vision to the national response and government of Pakistan with support from World Bank launched an enhanced response in the form of Enhanced HIV and AIDS Control Programme (EHACP).

Pakistan is a signatory to the MDGs; Goal 6 of which states that Pakistan will “Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS” by the year 2015.The primary objective of this programme is to seek such a halt and reversal. To contextualize the project seeks to contain the epidemic among the most at risk group where it has established and prevent it from establishing among the bridge groups and the general population.

Presently NACP and its provincial counterparts (Provincial AIDS Control Programs in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP and AJK) are implementing the interventions throughout the country. The principal components of the EHACP are:

Component 1: Expansion of Interventions for Vulnerable Populations
Component 2: Improved HIV Prevention by the General Public
Component 3: Prevention of Transmission through Transfusion of Blood
Component 4: Capacity Building and Programme Management             :: Read More