Regional Workshop on Strengthening ART Data Use in Asia and the Pacific

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) is extending the lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Though ART has become more widely accessible globally since the early 1990s, getting antiretroviral drugs (ARV) to those who need it most continues to be a challenge. As access increases, so does the need to assure that systems are in place to report on outputs and outcomes in a timely manner. Such data are vital to ART programs, as not only do they assist in tracking progress towards achieving global goals, but they also inform the day to day implementation of treatment programs. Without an adequate measurement of what is being done, countries risk losing opportunities to prevent premature deaths and potential ARV resistance; they also do not have the information critical to assure PLHIV on ART receive appropriate care at the appropriate time to improve and maintain their quality of life.

Acknowledging the need to share experiences and lessons learned in order to inform future direction, the U.S. Government (USG), World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners organized the first “Regional workshop on strengthening ART data use in Asia and the Pacific: examples from USG, national and multilateral partners” in Bangkok, Thailand from 18-19 May 2009. This two day workshop provided a forum for national and international experts to present lessons learned and discuss specific challenges faced in most resource-poor settings throughout the region.