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Contacts:
In
Islamabad:
Shahzad Sharjeel (051) 2279641
E-mail: ssharjeel@worldbank.org
In Washington DC:
Karina Manasseh (202) 473-1729
E-mail: kmanasseh@worldbank.org
WASHINGTON,
June 5, 2003
– Recognizing that Pakistan has an
opportunity to prevent a widespread HIV/AIDS
epidemic, the World Bank today announced the
approval of a US$37.1 million credit, of
which US$ 9.28 is a grant to the Government
of Pakistan. The HIV/AIDS
Prevention Project will prevent HIV/AIDS
from becoming established in vulnerable
populations while, at the same time,
avoiding stigmatization of these
vulnerable populations.
Currently, the HIV prevalence rate in Pakistan is less than 0.1
percent. While the numbers remain relatively
low, a failure to actively prevent
HIV/AIDS in Pakistan could lead to a
widespread epidemic. In response, the
Government of Pakistan developed the
National Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS
that set out the broad strategies and
priorities for effective control of the
epidemic, of which increased focus on
vulnerable populations such as commercial
sex workers, injecting drug users, and
prisoners, is one of them.
Hence, while the largest group of
beneficiaries of the project are the general
population of adults, many of the
project’s activities will focus on serving
vulnerable populations.
“The project’s objective is to prevent an HIV/AIDS epidemic
from raging out of control in Pakistan and
avoiding the resultant suffering, premature
death, family devastation, and economic
losses that stem from this disease,”
said Benjamin Loevinsohn,
Senior Public Health Specialist at the World
Bank, and task manager for the project.
Following the National Strategic Framework for the control of
HIV/AIDS, adopted by the Government of
Pakistan and its development partners in
2000, the project will be implemented by the
National and Provincial AIDS Control
Programs, and it is comprised of four
components:
- Expansion
of Interventions Among Vulnerable
Populations: Preventing the spread of HIV among
these populations, particularly those
living in large cities, will be critical
and will be the project’s highest
priority. This component, which
will be carried out by non governmental
organizations, and private
entities, includes behavior change
communication aimed at improving the
vulnerable population’s knowledge,
attitudes, and behaviors related to HIV;
promotion of effective condom use;
voluntary counseling and HIV testing;
proper management of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs);
needle exchange, and promotion of safe
injection practice; and empowering
activities that allow members of the
vulnerable populations to assert greater
control of their lives.
- Improved
HIV Prevention by the General Population: This component includes behavior change
communication aimed at the general adult
population; advocacy to raise awareness
of decision makers and opinion leaders
about HIV/AIDS; targeted
interventions for youth, the police, and
sex workers; and improved and expanded
management of STI cases.
-
Prevention of HIV/STI Transmission
Through Blood Transfusion: To
prevent the transmission of HIV and
other STIs through blood transfusions,
the project will support the
establishment and capacity-building of
provincial blood transfusion
authorities, the implementation of a
quality assurance system, the screening
of blood for HIV and other STIs,
and proper waste management for
potential infected material.
- Capacity
Building and Program Management: To strengthen the capacity of the National and
Provincial AIDS Control Programs and
their NGO partners to undertake
significantly expanded HIV prevention
activities, the Project would support
the strengthening of federal and
provincial AIDS Control Programs and NGO
capacity development.
“The project puts the delivery of services by non governmental
organizations and the private sector at the
center of the debate, and brings long-term
institutional benefits to the people of
Pakistan. If carried out well, the
services provided by these organizations to
the vulnerable groups could have benefits
beyond simply preventing HIV,” said Loevinsohn.
“The project’s activities would also
build the self-esteem of these marginalized
people and reduce their stigmatization and
harassment.”
The total cost of the project over the five-year period is estimated
at US$47.77 million. The funds from the
International Development Association (IDA),
the World Bank’s concessionary lending
arm, will provide US$37.11 million, of which
US$9.28 million will be a grant.
For More Information on the Bank’s Activities in Pakistan,
visit: http://www.worldbank.org/
For More Information on the Project, visit:
http://www4.worldbank.org/
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