On World Health Day - A New Strategy To Tackle Hiv In Our Region

On World Health Day - A New Strategy to Tackle HIV in Our Region

Today the Government releases its new strategy for international development assistance in HIV.

Developments in the way aid is delivered, particularly with the emergence of new funding mechanisms such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, have changed the way donors are working.

If we are to make progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV, our response needs to be intensified.

This is not just a question of doing more, but also doing it better.

The new strategy - Intensifying the response: Halting the spread of HIV sets priorities that will guide Australia's international development assistance to tackle the growing epidemic in the Asia- Pacific region. These priorities include working with our regional neighbours to:

* Increase and better target HIV prevention activities, particularly in high-risk groups.
* Support the integration of HIV prevention, treatment and care services into primary healthcare facilities.
* Improve their capacity to fund and deliver services.
* Review and improve their laws and policies to ensure people know their HIV status, receive treatment, and can access condoms and clean needles.

Australia remains committed to tackling HIV in the Asia Pacific region.

Five million people in the Asia-Pacific region live with HIV. In Asia, HIV is the single largest cause of death from disease among people between the ages of 15 to 44 years. HIV prevalence reached 1.6 per cent in rural Papua New Guinea in 2008 and 2.4 per cent in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua in 2006.

Australia's major regional HIV commitments include support for:

* Sanap Wantaim, Papua New Guinea's response to HIV.
* Indonesia's HIV Cooperation Program to combat HIV focussing on capacity building, prevention and care.
* Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative programs in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
* HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program, which works in Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and two provinces in Southern China.

The new strategy is available at www.ausaid.gov.au.

Mr Smith's Office:
Courtney Hoogen
02 6277 7500 or 0488 244901

Departmental:
AusAID Media
0417 680 590

SOURCE: AusAID