Afghanistan faces a high risk for an HIV epidemic. In responding to the challenge, the Afghanistan National Development Strategy established a five year goal which highlights that by Jaddi 1389 (end of 2010), a low prevalence of HIV positive cases (<0.5%) in the population will be maintained in order to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with HIV.

Accordingly, the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) through a comprehensive process has developed an HIV/AIDS National Strategic Framework (2006 – 2010). This framework includes Afghanistan’s broad vision and strategic objectives to address and mitigate the impact of HIV on the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS).

Though there is low HIV prevalence country, Afghanistan is considered a high-risk country for the spread of HIV infection. There are several reasons behind this: over two decades of protracted armed conflicts, the extremely low socio-political and economic status of women, the huge number of people displaced internally and externally, the extremely poor social and public health infrastructure, drug trafficking, use of injecting drugs and lack of blood safety and injection practices. These risk factors lead officials to warn of the urgent need for early interventions to prevent a potentially rapid spread of HIV in Afghanistan.

Objectives of the programme:

• By the end of 2009, capacity of health system should be strengthened to provide HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care package of services for PLH

• By the end of 2009 in-country technical capacity to provide HIV care and treatment, including ART for PLHA is strengthened.

• To strengthen the strategic information to guide policy formation, programme planning and implementation

• To gain political commitment and mobilise resources necessary to implement the national HIV/AIDS/STI strategy

• To ensure development and coordination of a multi-sectoral HIV response and develop institutional capacity of all the sectors involved

• To raise public awareness on HIV and STI prevention and control, ensure universal access to behaviour change communication on HIV, especially targeting most at risk and vulnerable groups

• To ensure access to prevention, treatment and care services for most at risk and vulnerable populations

• To strengthen the health sector capacity to implement an essential package of HIV prevention, treatment and care services within the framework of BPHS and EPHS;