OCTOBER 2005 — Pakistanis living with HIV and AIDS who participated in a recent "positive living" skills-building workshop received completion certificates at a ceremony in Lahore attended by several national and international dignitaries.

At the Oct. 26 event, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker urged graduates of the workshop, conducted by the New Light AIDS Control Society, to maintain the spirit of positive living by serving others. New Light partners with Family Health International/Pakistan to provide care and support to HIV-positive people. The organization's workshops are designed to improve the knowledge and skills of HIV-positive people to improve their health and well-being. After he spoke, Ambassador Crocker presented certificates to 20 workshop graduates.

Other dignitaries participating in the ceremony included Yasmeen Rehman, a member of the National Assembly; Misbah ur Rehman, former president of the Chambers of Commerce and Industries; Brian Heath, principal officer at the U.S. Consultant in Lahore; Dr. Nasir Sarfraz of the National AIDS Control Program; Dr. Naseer Nizamani, FHI's country director in Pakistan; Dr. Qadeer Ahsan of the U.S. Agency for International Development; and top officials representing Catholic Relief Services, UNAIDS, King Edward Medical College, Shokat Khanum Hospital and other organizations and institutions.

New Light has pioneered programming for HIV-positive people in Pakistan. The organization provides medical treatment, education and nutritional support to HIV-positive clients and encourages them to advocate for expansion of services. With support from FHI, New Light developed a training curriculum on positive living and publishing a positive living manual in the local language. So far, the group has trained more than 40 HIV-positive people