Publications

The process of stakeholder consultation to participate in the compilation of the Country Progress Report on HIV in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) began in August 2009 when the UNAIDS Pacific Office, in collaboration with the RMI Ministry of Health’s Clinical Care Manager for the STD and HIV & AIDS Program, convened a Pre‐Planning Meeting to explain the purpose and process for compiling the UNGASS Country Progress Report on HIV. Up to 30 different government and civil society stakeholders were invited to the meeting to identify their contribution to the Report.

The Maldives commenced UNGASS report preparation at a very late stage. Since Maldives has very little or no experience in UNGASS reporting, request for technical assistance was sent to UNAIDS, and UNAIDS supported by providing two external consultants to facilitate data collection and drafting of the narrative report. A working group was formed with representative of government (health and other sectors), civil society including NGOs / CBOs and UN agencies to prepare the report.

Malaysia initiated the process of consultation in preparation of the 2010 UNGASS Country Progress Report in early November 2009. It was a matter of priority and concern for both the Government and civil society partners that this report would be able to capture as much of the opinions and viewpoints of not only that of the Government but most importantly those of the many civil society stakeholders in the response to HIV in Malaysia.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic is unique in its HIV situation, and can be considered as the only country in the Greater Mekong Region that has maintained a low HIV prevalence in the general population. However Lao PDR’s low prevalence does not mean low risk. As Laos’ commitment to economic expansion transitions the country from “a landlocked to a land‐linked country” the risk to HIV vulnerabilities is evident. Increased mobility across borders coupled with the existing sex worker‐client vulnerabilities and the several emerging high‐risk groups, places Lao PDR on a continued alert of a new HIV threat.

India’s response to the changing nature of the epidemic is reflected in the policy framework and approaches of the National AIDS Control Programme. The third National AIDS Control Programme Strategy and Implementation Plan (2007-2012) is based on and builds upon the lessons learnt and achievements made in Phase I and II. The CPR India 2010 presents an overview of the epidemic, the strategic national response and its impact, and the challenges that lie ahead. India is a large diverse country and the epidemic is concentrated in six states among high risk populations. Complex social issues and entrenched social positions pose significant challenges for the policy makers, donors and the civil society engaged contributing to the national response.

A working group managed the preparation of this country report. Its members were drawn from government (MOH, Fiji School of Medicine), non-government (Men Fiji, MSIP, PC&SS, SWAN) and multilateral agencies (UNAIDS, UNDP, WHO and SPC). The working group was established in June 2009 and confirmed the process and schedule for reporting. The working group communicated by email through 2009 and met regularly during the first quarter of 2010 to oversee the process of report development.

Brunei Darussalam recorded its first local case of HIV in August 1986 and has had cumulatively 56 cases in citizens and permanent residents up till the end of 2009. Out of these 56 cases, 19 new cases were reported in 2008‐2009, with 2009 alone representing the highest annual increase with 11 new cases and a total of 8 new cases reported in 2008. As of the end of 2009, there are 34 persons known to be living with HIV in Brunei with 2 AIDS‐related deaths recorded in 2008‐9.

The first HIV infection in Sri Lanka was reported in 1987. Since then, a total of 1196 HIV infections and AIDS cases have been cumulatively reported in the country. There has been a steady increase in the number of reported cases over the years, in part due to the increase in HIV testing facilities and the availability of antiretroviral treatment.

This report has been prepared under the leadership and coordination of the National AIDS Authority (NAA) and with broad participation of all key stakeholders in Cambodia's response to HIV and AIDS. The consultative process involved key government ministries and departments, civil society, including representation of people living with HIV and of most-at-risk populations, and development partners. The report demonstrates Cambodia's success in building one single comprehensive system to track the HIV epidemic and to monitor and evaluate the national response to it. Although new data has not yet become available for all the 25 UNGASS indicators, Cambodia is this year able to present data against several indicators that could not be reported in previous rounds.

National STD/AIDS Programme (NASP) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh, provided coordination and leadership support to the process of preparation of UNGASS 2010 Bangladesh Country report. Report preparation was a joint effort of key stakeholders from government, civil society organizations (particularly organizations working on HIV prevention and care), UN agencies and other development partners. There were several consultations, one on one and in groups, to involve all national key stakeholders in the process of UNGASS report preparation.