Impressive gains across the region, but most countries need greater and sustained efforts to 'get to zero'
BUSAN, South Korea, 26 August 2011 - The AIDS epidemic in Asia and the Pacific is at a crossroads, according
to a new report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). While the
region has seen impressive gains-including a 20% drop in new HIV infections since 2001 and a three-fold increase in access to
antiretroviral therapy since 2006-progress is threatened by an inadequate focus on key populations at higher risk of HIV
infection and insufficient funding from both domestic and international sources.
Launched at the 2011 International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), the report, titled HIV in Asia and the
Pacific: Getting to Zero, found that more people than ever before have access to HIV services across the region. However, most countries
in the region are a long way from achieving universal access goals for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
"Getting to zero new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific will demand national responses based on science and the best
available evidence," said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. "HIV programmes must be sufficiently resourced and solidly focused
on key populations. Investments made today will pay off many-fold in the future."
Gains in the regional HIV response, but progress is fragile
According to the report, an estimated 4.9 million [4.5 million-5.5 million] people were living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific
in 2009, a figure that has remained relatively stable since 2005. The majority of people living with HIV in the region are in 11 countries:
Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Across Asia and the Pacific, there was a 20% decline in new HIV infections between 2001 and 2009-from 450 000 [410 000-510 000]
to 360 000 [300 000-440 000]. Cambodia, India, Myanmar and Thailand have reduced their HIV infection rates significantly with intensive,
wide reaching HIV prevention programmes for people who buy and sell sex.
The number of people accessing life-saving antiretroviral treatment in the region has tripled since 2006, reaching some
740 000 people at the end of 2009. Cambodia is one of only eight countries in the world to provide antiretroviral therapy to more than
80% of the people eligible for it. However, as of end-2009, more than 60% of people in Asia and the Pacific who were eligible for
treatment still could not access it.
The report found an estimated 15% decrease in new HIV infections among children since 2006. But regional coverage of HIV
services to prevent new HIV infections in children continues to lag behind global averages, particularly in South Asia.
According to the report, HIV epidemics can emerge even in countries where HIV prevalence was previously low. After a more
than 20-year 'low and slow' HIV epidemic in the Philippines, for example, the country now has a rapidly expanding epidemic among key
populations. In the city of Cebu, HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs increased from 0.6% to 53% between 2009 and 2011.
In Manila and Cebu, HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men is estimated at 5%.
More AIDS resources urgently needed
The AIDS response in Asia and the Pacific is underfunded, the report found. In 2009, an estimated US$ 1.1 billion was spent
on the AIDS response in 30 countries across the region-approximately one third of the funding needed to achieve universal access goals to
HIV services.
Though China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Samoa and Thailand are funding the bulk of their HIV response from domestic resources,
many countries in Asia and the Pacific depend heavily on foreign funding, particularly for the provision of antiretroviral therapy.
Increased investment of domestic resources, especially in middle-income countries, is critical for the ongoing regional response to HIV.
Funding cutbacks from international donors also threaten progress in the regional AIDS response. In 2009, international
assistance for the global AIDS response leveled off for the first time in a decade, and in 2010 it declined.
According to the report, investments to protect key populations from HIV remain insufficient. Among countries reporting
detailed expenditure data in 2010, only 8% of total AIDS spending in South Asia and 20% in Southeast Asia focused on HIV prevention
among key populations at higher risk of HIV infection.
###
UNAIDS
UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in
achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Learn more at unaids.org.
Contact
UNAIDS Geneva
Sophie Barton-Knott
tel. +41 22 791 1697
bartonknotts@unaids.org
UNAIDS Bangkok
Beth Magne Watts
tel. +66 81 835 34 76
magnewattsb@unaids.org
|
