PESHAWAR: Blue Veins calls upon the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Government to prioritize the approval of PC-1 for the HIV/AIDS Control Program and allocate dedicated resources in the upcoming 2025-2026 fiscal year budget to strengthen HIV response mechanisms.
This is imperative to demonstrate the government’s ownership and commitment to combating the growing HIV epidemic in the province.
Despite efforts to curb the spread of HIV, the transgender community in KP remains disproportionately affected due to limited access to inclusive and responsive healthcare services. Blue Veins calls for an urgent policy shift to ensure that the HIV/AIDS Program is more accessible, inclusive, and tailored to the unique needs of transgender persons. A behavioral change-focused approach is required to promote voluntary screening and prevention strategies within the transgender community.
“The approval of PC-1 for the HIV/AIDS Control Program and its inclusion in the provincial budget is not just an administrative decision—it is a life-saving necessity,” said Qamar Naseem, transgender rights activist. “Without sufficient financial allocation, the HIV response in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will remain inadequate, leaving thousands vulnerable and underserved.”
While multiple stakeholders, including civil society organizations and health experts, have emphasized the need for an inclusive and community-driven response to HIV/AIDS, progress remains slow. The KP Health Department must take decisive action by approving PC-1 and ensuring resource allocation to expand HIV prevention, treatment, and support services, particularly for key populations, including transgender persons.
Farzana Jan, President of TransAction (Provincial Alliance for Transgender Community) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stressed the need for a rights-based approach in HIV programming: “The transgender community in KP continues to struggle with stigma, discrimination, and barriers to healthcare access.
The HIV/AIDS Program must be responsive to our realities and prioritize behavioral change strategies that encourage voluntary screening and treatment adherence. We urge the government to demonstrate its commitment by approving PC-1 and allocating adequate resources in the upcoming budget.”
Civil Society organisations call on the KP Government, Health Department, and all relevant authorities to take immediate action to ensure that the HIV/AIDS response in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is adequately resourced, community-inclusive, and strategically designed to reduce transmission rates and improve health outcomes for all.
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