Category: News

The National Launch 2026 of Antenatal Care Insecticide-Treated Nets (ANC-ITNs) was held at the NRSP Regional Office, Hyderabad, under the leadership of National Coordinator, Common Management Unit (CMU), Dr. Zulifkar Gorar, with the participation of representatives from Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs), Sindh, and NRSP. The launch marked the commencement of ANC-ITN distribution to pregnant women as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen malaria prevention and control and improve access to effective preventive interventions.

This special initiative, undertaken under the guidance of the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, reflects the Government’s commitment to protecting pregnant women and other vulnerable populations from malaria through strengthened preventive measures particularly in malaria-affected areas of Sindh.

The National ANC-ITN Launch 2026 represents an important step towards strengthening malaria prevention among pregnant women and contributing to broader efforts to protect maternal and child health, while reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality.

The Common Management Unit (CMU), in collaboration with Mercy Corps Pakistan, conducted a one-day Pharmacovigilance Training in Karachi on 1 September 2026 for site-level Pharmacovigilance Focal Persons from TB and Malaria sites across Sindh.

The training focused on strengthening participants’ knowledge and practical skills in Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting, VigiFlow-based reporting, and pharmacovigilance practices at treatment sites.

The activity aimed to promote improved medicine safety, timely reporting of adverse drug reactions, and stronger pharmacovigilance practices at the facility level. It also contributes to strengthening Pakistan’s national pharmacovigilance system and supporting readiness for WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Level 3.

On 25 August 2026, a field visit was conducted to DHQ Hospital Mardan and the Frontier Primary Health Care (FPHC) Office to support and strengthen the implementation of pharmacovigilance activities. During the visit, the Risk Awareness and Communication Plan, developed as part of CMU’s pharmacovigilance activities, was piloted at DHQ Hospital Mardan.

The visit also focused on strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals in Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting, expanding VigiFlow-based pharmacovigilance reporting, and supporting active ADR inquiry and patient follow-up at the pilot site.

These activities contribute to strengthening Pakistan’s national pharmacovigilance system, particularly within the Malaria Control Program, and represent CMU’s contribution towards achieving WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) Level 3 for pharmacovigilance.

The Malaria Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting was held on August 20, 2026, at CMU Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Dr. Zulfiqar A. Gorar, National Coordinator, CMU. The meeting brought together representatives from CMU, Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), Malaria Control Programs of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including the Merged Districts, and Sindh, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Al-Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.

On 29 July 2026, the CMU Risk Communication and Awareness Plan for Pharmacovigilance Activities was piloted at the PIMS PMDT site, followed by implementation at the PIMS ART site on 3 August 2026.

The initiative focused on strengthening awareness among healthcare providers and patients regarding pharmacovigilance and the timely reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs). The activity aimed to promote patient safety, responsible medicine use, and effective medicine safety practices through improved awareness and reporting.

A coordination meeting between the Common Management Unit (CMU) and the National Pharmacovigilance Centre, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) was held on July 29, 2026, to discuss strengthening pharmacovigilance activities across the National TB, HIV/AIDS, and Malaria programmes. The meeting focused on improving adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting, strengthening monitoring and follow-up mechanisms, and expanding the implementation of pharmacovigilance activities across all three programmes.

Country Dialogue for Grant Cycle 8 under GFATM concluded in June 2026. The dialogue provided a valuable opportunity to interact with provincial colleagues and the GFATM country team. It also marked an important step toward the transition from Grant Cycle 7 to Grant Cycle 8, with renewed commitment to collaboration, coordination, and effective implementation..

A consultation meeting with development partners on the development of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) and Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) proposal for the HIV Program Pakistan was held on 21st May 2026 at the CMU. The meeting brought together representatives from CMU, development partners, consultants, UNICEF, OPM, GFAP, and other key stakeholders to discuss strategic priorities for HIV prevention, testing, treatment, monitoring systems, transition planning, and sustainability. National Coordinator CMU, emphasized the need for evidence-based programming, science-driven interventions, stronger monitoring indicators, and practical mitigation strategies to improve program outcomes. Participants also discussed key areas including HIV case finding, ART services, community-based case management, MIS strengthening, EMTCT, integration with health systems, and community-led programming. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen Pakistan’s HIV response through coordinated planning, improved data systems, sustainable financing, and effective implementation under NSP and GC8.

Jointly organized by the SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Center, Nepal, and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the meeting highlighted shared regional priorities. Participants discussed challenges, exchanged technical insights, and explored coordinated strategies to enhance TB and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and surveillance efforts across SAARC member states.

Jointly organized by the SAARC Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Center, Nepal, and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the meeting highlighted shared regional priorities. Participants discussed challenges, exchanged technical insights, and explored coordinated strategies to enhance TB and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and surveillance efforts across SAARC member states.