Open Letter to Governments in Asia

Re: Global AIDS Week of Action

In Asia today, an estimated 8.6 million people live with HIV and AIDS.  In June 2006, only 16% of this total received antiretroviral therapy, according to the latest report: UNAIDS/WHO AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2006. The rapid spread of HIV and AIDS in Asia needs to be tackled in tandem with equally swift implementation of prevention & treatment plans.

G8 countries had spearheaded universal access commitment in 2005. With only three years to go before 2010, the G8 is on the brink of squandering the potential of that bold promise. Thus, we implore you to urge the G8 to deliver a clear funding plan for their commitment to universal access to AIDS treatment, prevention, and care at their meeting in Germany in June 2007. G8 countries must fill the $8-10 billion annual Global Fund funding gap and ensure full and predictable funding of the Fund.

There are about 53 million migrant workers in Asia right now (United Nations, International Migration 2006). For a comprehensive approach to contain HIV/AIDS, the health of not only local populations but also migrant communities need to be addressed. Migrant communities deserve special attention as they pose as a high risk group and are vulnerable to HIV infections due to their relative lack of access to health care services in destination countries compared to locals. While working abroad, migrants have little or no access to information on prevention, pre and post test counseling as well as awareness of their serostatus. In cases whereby they are found to be HIV positive, they would be deported, without further assistance on how they can further seek treatment and care in host or home countries.

Therefore, we call upon you to speed up actions to halt the rapid spread of HIV as pledged at the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in 2001. We urge you to:

1) Increase funding and resources to scale up AIDS treatment access.

2) Pressure G8 countries to multiply financial resources, technical support & other assistance.

3) Develop, expand or improve on national AIDS plan that includes ambitious treatment targets for all vulnerable populations including migrant workers by 30 June, 2007.

4) Create a more enabling environment for HIV testing whilst upholding human rights standards.

5) Put in place referral mechanisms to ensure returnee migrants have adequate access to AIDS treatment in their home countries.

6) Support any countries taking up bold measures to provide affordable and sustainable treatment to their citizens in the advent of threats from pharmaceutical companies.

Finally, we urge you to collaborate with civil society, NGOs, and health care providers to realise your AIDS plans after inclusion of the above recommendations. Without your accelerated implementation of plans to boost access to AIDS treatment, thousands will face imminent death.