Does the Philippines need the 100% Condom Use Program?

Dear Members and Friends of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Staff Association,

We would like to invite you and your partners from civil society to attend a special Brown Bag session entitled “Does the Philippines need the 100% Condom Use Program” on 2 May Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. – 12 :30 p.m. at the UNDP/UNFPA Conference Room, 30^th floor Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

To be presented by Dr. Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn, of WHO/China who is in the Philippines to provide technical support in the assessment of the 100% Condom Use Program (100% CUP) - a DOH and WHO initiative that had started in 2003. Popularly known as “Dr. Wiwat”, he pioneered the 100% CUP in Thailand that had effectively prevented new HIV infections in the country in the mid 90’s. He is also instrumental in starting-up the implementation of 100% CUP in 9 countries in Asia region, including the Philippines. Enclosed is a copy of Dr. Wiwat’s CV for your reference.

The Brown Bag session shall start promptly with the following programme.

I. Welcome Remarks Ms. Nileema Noble
UN Resident Coordinator

II. Brief Introduction Dr. Jean Marc-Olive
WHO Country Director

III. Presentation Dr. Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn
Team Leader of HIV/AIDS Team in WHO China

IV. Closing Remarks Ms. Rena Dona
Chair, UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Staff Association

This special Brown Bag session is FREE and is open to colleagues from all UN Agencies and CSO partners. Please confirm attendance by e-mail to ruth.honculada@undp.org or call 901-0403 to facilitate entrance inside UN premises.

Supporting people living with HIV in China

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...
In 2005 UNAIDS estimated that around 650,000 people were living with HIV in China and that the epidemic could spread rapidly if efforts were not increased. In recent years action on AIDS has been stepped up in China and many health care centres have started providing treatment, care and support to people living with HIV around the country such as the Beijing Ditan Hospital and the Red Ribbon Centre.
Read more

UN Secretary-General releases progress report on universal access

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...
One year ago, the international community significantly strengthened its commitment to reverse the spread of HIV and to keep the AIDS response high on the political agenda. At the 2006 High-Level Meeting on AIDS, a new global objective was declared: universal access. On the 18th of April, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a report outlining developments over the past 12 months in scaling up towards the goal of universal access. This report will officially be presented by the Secretary-General to the UN General assembly on the 21st of May 2007.

Download report (pdf, 240 Kb)

UNAIDS quarterly newsletter (Jan - Mar 2007)

The newsletter features information on WHO/UNAIDS recommendations for countries regarding male circumcision and HIV prevention, information on the 7th reference group meeting on HIV and human rights, the new Public Service Announcement (PSA) on AIDS featuring the UNAIDS Special Representative Michael Ballack, and more. The newsletter also highlights latest publications produced by UNAIDS including the “Practical Guidelines for Intensifying HIV Prevention” as well as policies on HIV and refugees and the Greater Involvement of People living with HIV (GIPA).

For more information on UNAIDS activities, please visit the website at www.unaids.org

To subscribe to this quarterly newsletter, go to:
http://www.unaids.org/Services/Subscribe.aspx

Intensifying HIV prevention: country guidance critical

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...
Guidance for countries on the definitions, core components and quality standards for HIV prevention activities is critical for future action to intensify prevention, world experts said at the recent meeting of the UNAIDS HIV Prevention Reference Group.

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Securing the future – advocating for children

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...
Children still remain largely the missing face from national and international political responses to AIDS. The UNAIDS Secretariat and cosponsor UNICEF recently joined a group of advocates and activists from around the world to define a platform for joint advocacy towards the goal of achieving the first-ever “AIDS-Free Generation”.

Read more

Harm reduction to be scaled up in Ukraine

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...
Unsafe injecting drug use is the main driver of the AIDS epidemic in Ukraine. As part of the efforts to address injecting drug use and its relationship with HIV, Ukraine recently held a national conference on harm reduction which attracted over 400 participants. One of the main aims of the conference was to assess existing programmes and identify new ways of improving the quality and increasing the scale of harm reduction services in Ukraine.

Read more

Focus on AIDS and security

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...

Under the broad theme of ‘Health and International Security’, AIDS and the threat it poses to the stability of communities is one of the focus issues of this year’s World Health Day. AIDS affects the most productive members of society—which can lead to the breakdown of family, community and political structures. Civil and international conflicts destabilize and displace populations, increasing vulnerability to HIV infection.
Read more on AIDS and Security
Read more on AIDS and conflict
Read more on World Health Day

Not any different from you!

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...

In Moldova, widespread and deeply rooted misbelieves about HIV continue to fuel stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. A large scale TV and radio campaign was recently launched to promote solidarity with people living with HIV.

Read more

HIV Infections On The Rise In Asia

HIV Infections In Asia Could Double In 5 Years Without Better Government Response
Source: CBS News

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The number of people in Asia infected with the AIDS virus threatens to double over the next five years unless governments do more to stop the spread of HIV, officials said Friday.

About 8.6 million people are infected in Asia with HIV.

At the current level of inadequate response, it is expected this number will rise to about 20 million in the next five years," the independent Commission on Aids in Asia said.

The nine-member commission, funded by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS or UNAIDS, is holding its two-day Southeast Asia Sub-Regional workshop in Manila.

It said the number of deaths currently average around 500,000 yearly, and financial losses to the Asian region are estimated at $10 billion annually. The economic cost is predicted to rise to as high as $29 billion per year if the epidemic is not controlled within the next five years.

Despite these projections, investments in HIV control in the region remain extremely low at 10 percent of the required $5 billion per year, it added.

Read more here.

Photo: A monk from Lao PDR, participant to the AIDS Commission Workshop in Manila. Photo by Rey Mendez

Related news:
HIV Infections in Asia Could More Than Double in 5 Years, The Body
HIV infections in Asia could more than double in 5 years, World News
HIV infections increase in Asia, Canadian Press
Migration, drug use increase AIDS risk in Asia -- experts, Philippine Daily Inquirer
UN-backed commission: HIV infections in Asia could easily double in 5 years, CBC News

Govt told to step up AIDS fight

By Maricel V. Cruz, Reporter
Source: Manila Times

The Department of Health report indicating an alar­ming increase in HIV/AIDS cases among overseas Filipino workers should prod the government to step up its efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay said on Thursday.

Pichay, who is running for the Senate under the administration Team Unity, underscored the need for the public to do their share in addressing the problem.

“Every segment of society should play a role in HIV prevention. Everyone should be involved. The government should commit funds for research and backed by private organizations to spread the word about how to stop HIV,” Pichay said.

Read more here.

Male circumcision and HIV prevention

Updates from the UNAIDS Website...

WHO and UNAIDS launch experts meeting recommendations for countries considering to scale up access to male circumcision as an additional HIV prevention method. The recommendations emphasize that male circumcision should always be part of a comprehensive prevention package.

Joint WHO/UNAIDS press release
Read recommendations ( en | fr )
More on male circumcision