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In March 2010, there were 120 new HIV Ab seropositive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry (Table 1). This was a 103% increase compared to the same period last year (n=59 in 2009) [Figure 1]. Of the 120 individuals reported, 13 were detected from voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) as part of ongoing community outreach activities.

In March 2010, PSI Laos, in collaboration with the Lao Center for HIV/AIDS and STIs (CHAS) and in support of the National HIV/AIDS Program, conducted a survey of male to female Transgenders (MtF TG) in Vientiane Capital and Savannakhet Province. A total of 450 MtF TGs participated in this survey; including 320 in Vientiane Capital and 130 in Savannakhet. Behavioral and disease (HIV/STI) level data were collected to monitor the impact of PSI interventions on key target behaviors among TGs.

The HIV epidemic in Myanmar is concentrated, with HIV transmission primarily occurring in high risk sexual contacts between sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men and the sexual partners of these sub-populations. In addition, there is a high level of HIV transmission among injecting drug users through use of contaminated injecting equipment, with transmission to sexual partners. Latest modelling estimated the HIV prevalence in the adult population (aged 15-49) at 0.61% in 2009. For key populations most-at-risk, surveillance data from 2008 showed HIV prevalence in the sentinel groups at 18.1% in female sex workers, 28.8% in men who have sex with men, and 36.3% in male injecting drug users. It is estimated that around 238,000 people are living with HIV in Myanmar in 2009, of whom 74,000 are in need of antiretroviral therapy. In the same year, an estimated 17,000 people died of AIDS-related illness. Incidence is estimated at well above 10,000 new infections per year, confirming the continuing need for effective prevention efforts, with increased emphasis on reaching long term female sexual partners of male most at risk populations.

Although classified as a middle- income country, with a population of almost 20 million, Sri Lanka has achieved remarkable social and health indicators, some of which are at par with those of developed nations. Sri Lanka is classified as a country with a low level epidemic of HIV in the Southeast Asia region, with an estimated HIV prevalence of less than 0.1% among adults (15-49 years). Almost three decades since the detection of the first HIV infection in Sri Lanka, a cumulative total of 1,196 HIV infections have been reported to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP) as of December 2009, out of which 326 have been reported as AIDS, and 202 individuals have been reported to have succumbed to the illness. Over the years a slow but gradual increase in the number of reported cases has been observed, in part due to the increase in testing facilities and availability of antiretroviral therapy, which has encouraged more people to come forward for HIV testing.

The 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) are the guiding force of the global response on AIDS. Pacific Parliamentarians renewed this Declaration in Honiara in 2008. This is the second time Vanuatu has submitted a Country Progress Report to monitor the Declaration of Commitment to HIV/AIDS. The first Progress Report covered the period January 2004 to December 2005. This Progress Report covers the period January 2008 to December 2009.

This 2010 UNGASS Country Progress Report was prepared on the basis of an inclusive and consultative process, led by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health HIV/AIDS Unit and the Solomon Islands National AIDS Council (SINAC). Clinical and policy staff of the HIV/STI Unit, the Ministry of Health and other government and civil society stakeholders, including NGOs and faith based organisations, were involved in preparation process.

Singapore’s HIV epidemic is classified as a low-level epidemic. The first case of HIV was diagnosed in Singapore in 1985. Since then, the cumulative total number of HIV-infected Singapore residents has increased from 2 in 1985 to a cumulative total of 4,159 as of 30 June 2009.

At the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) held in 2001, 189 Member States adopted the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS; and PNG was among these States that initially adopted this Declaration. Every two years member states are required to report to the UN General Assembly, a on their progress towards achieving the goals of the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. The first UNGASS reporting round was in 2004. PNG submitted its first UNGASS report in 2008.

This report was compiled by the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer of the HIV/AIDS & STI Program with the assistance of the Secretariat of the Pacific Communities. Consultations with staff members from the Ministry of Health, Finance and Budget Office of the Ministry of Health, Palau Red Cross Society, and the National Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS known as the Palau HIV/AIDS and STI Advisory Group (PHASAG) were held. The PHASAG meets 4-6 times a year and has played an active role in reviewing the HIV/AIDS & STI Program budget. They were actively involved in the workshop for reviewing the national HIV/AIDS & STI strategy in November 2007. Relationship between government and civil society has improved through increased collaboration and involvement in key areas of HIV/STIs. Due to the small population, the members of PHASAG are all involved in various boards and other organizations; however, the group had always garnered quorum to conduct its business.

The process of UNGASS report preparation began in early 2010, with a request from the FSM National HIV/AIDS Coordinator to each of the state level HIV/AIDS/STI program managers to begin collecting relevant information to prepare an update of the 2008 report. The four state managers, assisted by their staff collected the information necessary to be included in the National Composite Policy Index (NCPI), the National AIDS Spending Assessment (NASA), and any other specific information required for the UNGASS report.