Publications

As yet, little is known about the HIV epidemic status and potential in Afghanistan. The country seems to be at an early epidemic phase with low HIV prevalence, but there are a number of underlying vulnerability factors that could lead to the conditions for epidemic expansion, including drug trafficking, the post-conflict situation with displacement of populations, a fledgling health care system, and a low level of knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS. As in other parts of central and south Asia, the most important proximate determinants of the scale and distribution of an HIV epidemic in Afghanistan will be the size and characteristics of high risk networks involving injecting drug users (IDUs), female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men (MSM) who are at high risk (i.e., have high numbers of sexual partners). Assessments from elsewhere in central Asia indicate an explosive growth in injecting drug use and commercial sex work throughout the region, concurrent epidemics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and economic and political migration. As yet, little information is known about the size, distribution, and characteristics of IDU and sex worker sub-populations in Afghanistan. Therefore, the World Bank (WB) agreed with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) to contract with the University of Manitoba (UM) to conduct an assessment of these three key, high risk populations in three cities of Afghanistan: Mazār-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, and Kabul.

A few years after the first reported case of AIDS in the USA, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) had also established itself in Asia. It spread quickly and by the early 1990s, HIV infections were being reported in every country of Asia. In some, notably Thailand, major epidemics were underway. A little more than two decades later, an estimated 9 million people in Asia have been infected with HIV, and millions of them have died of AIDS-related illnesses. The Commission on AIDS in Asia was set up in June 2006 and assigned an 18-month mandate to study and assess the impact of AIDS in Asia, and to recommend strategies for a stronger response to HIV and AIDS. The Commission's terms of reference and its composition are provided in the annexes to this Report.

Worldwide at any given time, there are approximately 10 million prison inmates, with an annual turnover of 30 million. Thus, after release, millions of prisoners return to social networks in the general community, thereby facilitating the spread of HIV to the community. Prison inmates are vulnerable to risk behaviours including drug abuse and HIV. Although no reliable estimates are available for the South Asian region, in most countries, drug use and unsafe sexual practices are well-recognized problems in prison settings. Everywhere in the world, rates of HIV-infection among prison populations are generally much higher than in the general population. Drug use in general, and injecting drug use in particular, as well as violence and the practice of men having sex with men are widespread in prisons. In South Asia (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka), 26 prison intervention sites are being supported by UNODC under its regional project RAS/H71 titled, "Prevention of spread of HIV amongst vulnerable groups in South Asia".

In South-East Asia, mobility is a growing phenomenon and a major concern due to the high vulnerability to HIV of mobile populations. The dynamics of population movement have evolved in South-East Asia over the last decade, and are in a phase of acceleration due to multiple factors including geopolitical and socio-economic changes, infrastructure development and closer cooperation among ASEAN Member Countries. Whether mobility is internal or cross-border, whether it is voluntary or forced, this increasing population movement generates particular conditions and circumstances that render migrants vulnerable and at risk of HIV infection. This document presents the key findings and recommendations of a rapid assessment conducted on HIV and mobility issues in the 10 ASEAN Member Countries in 2007-2008. It includes the migration patterns and HIV situation across the region, and the challenges and opportunities facing South-East Asian countries as they work together to develop a comprehensive response to HIV for migrant and mobile populations.

This review has been commissioned in order to produce a summary analysis of processes and outcomes from the 2008 UNGASS Country Reports. The aim of the review is to provide: 1. a general overview of civil society participation in national responses and in the compilation of the reports; and 2. an assessment of the accuracy/gaps of each report in terms of civil society experience and knowledge of national responses. The countries that have provided 2008 UNGASS Country Reports are China, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Tuvalu. The majority of Country Reports note that current UNGASS 2008 reporting has improved significantly from the last round, reflecting improved data collection, increased political commitment and a greater willingness to acknowledge and include the view of civil society partners. Nevertheless the number of reports quality, amount of information and number of indicators reported on – ranging from Singapore’s 5 and Japan’s 7 pages to Papua New Guinea’s 169 pages – indicates that some countries take the reporting process more seriously than others.

The Lao PDR started a participatory, consultative process to update its National Strategy and Action Plan for 2006-2010 in early 2005. Based on the mid-term review of the national strategy and action plan 2002-2005, stakeholder meetings at provincial and at central level provided the opportunity to discuss achievements, obstacles and opportunities to stabilize the HIV epidemic in Laos at the current low levels. The final consultation was held on 23 January 2006, and the strategy and action plan were endorsed by the National Committee for the Control of AIDS on 24 January 2006. At the same time the national policy was revised.

The Asian Epidemic Model (AEM) Projections for HIV/AIDS in Thailand 2005-2025 were prepared by the Analysis and Advocacy Project (A2) in Thailand, in collaboration with the Thai Working Group on HIV/AIDS Projections, and with funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The present projections are an update of the projections prepared in 2000.

The AIDS Medium Term Plan IV of the Philippines was conceptualized and prepared through a robust and wide consultative process which was inclusive of civil society, different agencies of the government, multi lateral and bilateral agencies as well as corporates. The period of this plan is from 2005 to 2010. The Philippine National AIDS Council is responsible for overseeing the program implementation plan of the country. In this regard, the PNAC commissioned a mid term assessment of the plan in order to draw lessons from the first half of the plan, and to apply these in the second half of the plan i.e. 2009 and 2010. The assessment will also look into the performance of the council, and suggest improvements for the same.

The 2009-2013 Strategic Plan identifies strategies to address these issues and incorporate lessons learnt in the future national response to HIV. The Plan proposes a safer and more resilient Tongan population working together in the treatment, care and support of those living with HIV - and help prevent the spread of STIs, HIV and other communicable diseases so that people can live free and healthy lives in dignity and unity in a peaceful and prosperous Tonga. Its goal is to reduce the spread and impact of HIV and other STIs through a whole-of- country approach, while embracing the groups that are most at risk such as people living with and affected by HIV and Other STIs.

Hong Kong, located in Asia the new burning place of HIV infection, is still having a relatively low prevalence of HIV infection. While sexual transmission is the predominant route of transmission in Hong Kong, an upsurge of infection in injecting drug users is a concern from the experience in other Asian localities. Various public health measures in Hong Kong have kept the HIV prevalence of drug users at low level, as compared with neighbouring cities.