Pakistan
Pakistan has been a recipient country of the Global Fund since 2004 and has signed over US$ 1.035 billion for HIV, Malaria, Tuberculosis and RSSH programmes, and is part of the Multicountry East Asia and Pacific APN, Multicountry MENA HRA, Multicountry South Asia and Multicountry TB Asia UNDP grants supported by the Global Fund.
According to the Audit Report; Global Fund Grants in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan released in April 2020, the country has made good progress in the fight against malaria, but significant challenges remain in TB and HIV. Pakistan has the fifth-highest TB burden in the world, and the fourth-highest burden of drug-resistant TB. While the country has been able to successfully treat patients diagnosed with TB, there are material weaknesses in identifying patients: the case detection rate stagnated in 2017 and started decreasing in 2019. About 36% of TB cases were undetected in 2019, despite the introduction of innovative grant activities. Grant interventions for active TB case finding are heavily urban-focused, with limited activities in rural areas where the majority of the population live. HIV grants focus on the key populations, given the concentrated nature of the disease in the country. The rising HIV infection rate (57% increase between 2010 and 2018) could result in greater prevalence in the general population if not addressed. HIV-related deaths in Pakistan increased by 4.5 times between 2010 and 2018, in contrast to a global decline. The adequacy and effectiveness of funded HIV and TB interventions to achieve impact are rated as needing significant improvement.
Action
About the action
The action in Pakistan is led by Khawaja Sira Society with the support of the following partners.
Action
Preparations
A community awareness session was held on the 8th March to share key messages on the Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund.
Communities gathered together on the 8th March in preparation for the Global Week of Action to fold the origami paper cranes.
Action
Preparations of the letters
On 10th March, final preparations on the printing of the letter was made prior to the meeting with the United States Embassy representatives.
On 14th March, letters were printed and prepared, and on the 15th March were sent to the Embassies of Norway, Italy, Canada and Australia.
Action
United States
Community members met with Valerie Begley, Gender Issues Coordinator and Kathleen Gibilisco, Political and Economic Chief from the United States Embassy on 14th March.
Action
European Commission
Community members met with Sven Ruesch, Acting Head of Cooperation from the European Commission virtually on the 21st March.
Action
Japan
Community members met with Chiho Ohashi, Schief Advisor from the Embassy of Japan on 23rd March.
