PESHAWAR, July 26: The World Bank has urged the health department to extend the HIV/Aids awareness programme to the areas which have remained neglected so far.

It had also suggested awarding small grants for HIV/AIDS awareness to non-government organisations in districts which had not been covered by other donor organisations, said an official of the provincial HIV/Aids Control Programme.

“Most of the districts in the NWFP are covered either by the health department or some donor organisation. Awarding grants to the NGOs in these districts may result in duplication of activities and deprive other districts of funds,” said a health official, referring to the WB’s mid-term review report released last month.

He said that the Aida control programme had received 67 proposals for award of small grants from NGOs. Of those, 10 had been short-listed after technical evaluation and the opening of their financial proposals would take place on Aug 1, he said.

The programme is awarding four grants sponsored by the World Bank of Rs1.5 million each for six to eight months to NGOs to raise awareness about the causes of the disease and measures for its prevention.

A meeting of the inter-departmental consultants selection committee held on July 7 was briefed about the views of the WB mission, which was of the opinion that activities regarding Aids awareness should be scaled up and areas for future interventions identified where the problem existed in the vulnerable and high-risk age group.

It said that the magnitude of the problem and exact scope of work could be assured only by carrying out a mapping exercise and inclusion of need-based activities in the revised PC-1 of the programme as suggested by the WB and agreed by the provincial government.

“The bank recommended future interventions in Upper Dir, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak, Hangu, Buner and Swabi,” said an official. These districts were home to thousands of immigrant workers who are often blamed for spreading the infection among local people, mostly their wives, said the official.

The report pointed out that programmes had been implemented in Peshawar, Abbottabad, Haripur and Bannu districts, whereas NGOs in Mardan, Nowshera and Charsadda received grants under the European Commission-funded Tamir Project implemented by the Inter Act Worldwide. Besides, it said, Buner and Hangu-based NGOs received funds from UNAIDS.

It said that giving preference to the under-developed areas for immediate intervention would not only build the capacity of the NGOs but also help in the establishment of future linkages.