PESHAWAR, Sept 28: Lack of training among NGO workers was adversely affecting the awareness campaign against HIV/Aids in the province, officials said.

“We have hundreds of NGOs working for HIV/Aids prevention, 51 of them registered with the NWFP Aids Consortium, which is working in collaboration with the National Aids Control Programme,” said a doctor associated with the work of the NGOs.

He added that most of the NGOs had limited capacity in counselling, monitoring and research. “The NGOs receive huge funding from the donor agencies, but they do little research on HIV/Aids-related issues.”

On the other hand, there is a need to work on vulnerable groups, including out of school children and truck drivers.

Most of the HIV/Aids victims in the region belong to the tribal areas where the NGOs do not have access due to security and socio-cultural environment and misconceptions about NGOs.

An official said that recently there were some demonstrations against an NGO in Lakki Marwat district, accusing it of promoting vulgarity. The NGOs should make socially acceptable interventions in specific communities, he advised. He said that arrangements should be made for Aids/HIV tests at airports, especially for deportees from Middle East countries.

Meanwhile, the NWFP Aids Consortium has asked UN agencies to issue funds to NGOs through it to avoid duplication of activities and wastage of money.

“Huge funds are being paid by the UN and international donor organisations through NGOs for raising public awareness about HIV/Aids, but there are little tangible results as far as achievement of the prescribed goals is concerned,” said an official.

He said that last month one such project was terminated which was being run by two NGOs on female sex workers in Mardan.