This case study from the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group on Global HIV/AIDS/STI Surveillance recalls the reasons for making national estimates of HIV infection, and goes on to present the difficulties posed by concentrated epidemics and the challenges faced by Indonesia. It discusses how to decide on a process and put it into practice, and shares lessons learnt from the work in Indonesia. The study concludes that Indonesia’s experience demonstrates that it is possible to make such estimates in a huge, geographically, culturally and epidemiologically diverse country. Other countries with HIV epidemics concentrated in populations with high risk behaviour can benefit from Indonesia’s experience by adopting a similar estimation process.

This report provides data on the different sources and price ranges of HIV/AIDS drugs. It documents marketing information to help procurement agencies make informed decisions on the source of drugs; manufacturers interested in supplying HIV-related drugs and diagnostics at reduced prices; and the availability and price range of antiretroviral drugs for combination therapy. The report also includes information on essential drugs used to treat a wide range of opportunistic infections, pain-relieving drugs for use in palliative care, and drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS-related cancer. For the first time, it provides information on the range of test kits available for the diagnosis of HIV.

The lessons learnt from the RTA’s experience in HIV/AIDS prevention and impact alleviation can be used as a basis for further development towards more effective and efficient models. It can also be a useful example for other agencies in Thailand and other countries with similar problems and similar socio-cultural backgrounds to apply and adapt for their own use.

The media have a pivotal role to play in the fight against AIDS. It is often said that education is the vaccine against HIV. Many media organizations are rising to the challenge by promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS and educating listeners and viewers about the facts of the epidemic and how to stop it.

The determination of the Ukrainian authorities has been essential in moving the plans into action. This study will provide important information on the steps that were taken to have an impact, and build up a sustainable setting to tackle HIV in uniformed services. I hope this will also serve as an encouragement to the countries and their populations who are developing their work in this important field.

This case study documents the experience of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against AIDS (PANCAP) to mobilize the response to AIDS in the region. It highlights both the Partnership's successes as well as the challenges it continues to face in supporting effective action on AIDS in all of its twenty nine countries.

The present guide complements the indicators included in National AIDS programmes: a guide to monitoring and evaluation, by refining the indicators that have already been defined and proposing new ones that are in relatively early phases of development and use. These new indicators are included so as to ensure that policies and programmes benefit from the lessons learnt during the past decade and to provide experience of their measurement and use.

The cost-effectiveness analysis is an important tool in the prioritysetting process of strategic planning. In responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic the costs and consequences of the initiatives proposed in an AIDS programme must be known to the decision-makers to make best use of scarce resources.

For many years, humanitarian and relief organizations did not see HIV as a priority in emergencies, focusing their attention on lifesaving measures such as the provision of health care, water, food and shelter. HIV was not seen as a direct threat to life, nor was the need to address HIV/AIDS as a long-term development issue fully understood. With the evidence of the HIV/AIDS dimension in the recent southern Africa crisis this perception is now changing. Coordinated responses to increased HIV vulnerability in emergency settings are starting to be integrated into humanitarian and relief agency workplans at the earliest possible stage
of an emergency.

UN Organizations are increasingly being challenged to demonstrate their relevance as well as their ability to work together and make the best use of their collective resources. More than ever, therefore, the spotlight is on the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and its contribution to the AIDS effort at the country level, and on the performance of UN Theme Groups on HIV/AIDS.