Meeting between the senior Officials of SAARC TB and HIV Center and APACHA International Secretariat was held on 27th of November 2008 in SAARC TB and HIV Center. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss about the possible links and solidarity between SAARC and APACHA and to discuss about upcoming SAARC Conference on HIV&AIDS. The SAARC team was led by Dr. Kashi Kant Jha, the director of SAARC and TB Center and APACHA Team was lead by Mr. Prabodh Devkota, the Asia Coordinator. Both parties have agreed to provide support to each other.
Regarding the upcoming SAARC Conference starting from 15th-18th in Kathmandu, SAARC and APACHA have agreed to work together to make the event a success. Further, APACHA Team will provide media related support in disseminating information through website and its networks. Similarly, APACHA will also provide support by mobilizing volunteers. Furthermore, representative from APACHA will address the conference highlighting on the importance of Multi-sectoral Response on HIV&AIDS based on APACHA experience in Asia.
Dr. Jha said, "We welcome civil society organizations and networks like APACHA to come together and this will help us to be more focused in our goals. We hope to continue this relation and we hope this process will help to legitimatize our cooperation in days to come". Similarly, Mr. Devkota said, "This is high time for both the government agencies and people's network to come together and join hands to make a better Asia.” Devkota also appreciated Dr. Jha and his team for their support and willingness to engage civil society organizations.
APACHA News Desk
www.apachanet.org
