CARAM ASIA - Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility

By Jhabindra Bhandari
Source: The Rising Nepal
AT the beginning of the 21st century, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), which causes the acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to have its greatest impact in developing countries. Most importantly, socio-economic impacts are potentially larger, and, hence, it is a constraint to sustainable human development.

In addition to this, emerging downward trends in life expectancy and population growth, the distortions in age structures, and the break downs in support systems are already being seen in some countries where the pandemic is steadily growing.

Despite several efforts for prevention and care of HIV/AIDS, the worrying fact is that the epidemic is continuously increasing. Unfortunately, there is no cure yet though medical science and technology have progressed over the decades.

Enormous burden

Of course, the global burden of HIV/AIDS has been seriously progressing in recent years. According to an UNAIDS report, there were 40.5 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2005. More than 25 million have died of AIDS since 1981. In particular, poor developing countries of the world are most affected by the epidemic.

The epidemic in Asia is also expanding rapidly in the region that includes the world�s most populous countries - China and India. India has the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS outside South Africa.

According to the UNAIDS report, in 2005, some 8.3 million people were living with HIV in Asia, including 1.1 million people who became newly infected in the past year. AIDS claimed some 520,000 lives in 2005.

Though national HIV infection figures in Asia are low compared with some other continents, notably Africa, the burden of increasing spread of HIV/AIDS is enormous as it is affecting a large number of people in the region. Loss of human resources due to HIV/AIDS cannot be ignored.

High risk behaviour is associated with increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. For example, unprotected sex, drug abuse, girl trafficking and prostitution often continue to sustain serious AIDS epidemics in Asia.

Poverty, migration and urbanisation have significant impacts on the lives of people and their health. Population at most risk are those who have unsafe sex and multiple partners, injecting drug users, migrants and young people.

As the spread of HIV infection is growing, there is a big challenge in several developing countries in terms of resources for providing treatment and care to the infected people.

“In 2005, an estimated 1.1 million people in Asia needed antiretroviral treatment, the second-highest number in the world.”

In 2005, an estimated 1.1 million people in Asia needed antiretroviral treatment, the second-highest number in the world. However, care and treatment services are yet to be effectively implemented and sustained across the region.

Many national and international initiatives have been started around the world in order to fight against HIV/AIDS globally. As an example, the 2006 follow-up meeting on the outcome of the 26th special session and implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS will take place this year from May 31 to June 2 at the United Nations in New York.

The prime objective of this historic meeting is to review progress achieved in realising the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment, and to assess the constraints and opportunities in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.

Additionally, this event will also consider the recommendations for effectively reaching the targets of the Declaration and, more importantly, renewing political commitment. This will further support and contribute to the existing efforts in the fight against the epidemic.

It can be hoped that this participatory meeting of all sectors of the international community, governments, civil society and the private sector offer opportunities for sharing experiences and innovative ideas for joint action in the fight against the AIDS pandemic.

Resource mobilisation in Asia is one of the key challenges to fighting AIDS. However, there are rays of hope as a Global Fund has been created to finance a dramatic turn-around in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. As reported, these diseases kill over 6 million people each year, and the numbers are growing every year.

The Global Fund has committed US$ 4.9 billion to 131 countries to support aggressive interventions against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Over the five years, with Global Fund resources, 1.8 million people are projected to receive antiretroviral treatment, and 62 million persons will be reached with voluntary counseling and testing services for HIV prevention.

Partnership

The Global Fund is actually an important opportunity in terms of partnership among governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities. However, the success of this fund depends on effective mobilisation of the resources in programming and implementation so that people who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS can directly benefit.

Undoubtedly, a multi-sectoral response is the key to fighting against HIV/AIDS worldwide. Ensuring access to information, education and communication services related to HIV/AIDS is most needed in communities. Resource mobilisation, advocacy, strong political commitment and participation of people living with HIV/AIDS can make a significant difference in prevention and control of the epidemic.

(The writer is associated with the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok.)

AIDS Pandemic In Asia