Under the theme “facing the challenge”, the first Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS conference (EECCAAC) welcomed around 1500 participants in Moscow from 15 to 17 May. This first regional conference provided an important forum for political leaders, scientists and researchers, people living with HIV and representatives from civil society to take stock of the AIDS response in the region. The EECAAC will be held every two years, and will replace the annual Russian National AIDS Conference in Suzdal.

During the last decade, the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia have experienced one of the world’s fastest growing HIV epidemics. By the end of 2005, more than 1.6 million people were already living with HIV in the region and around 75% of the reported HIV infections between 2000 and 2004 were in people under 30. The escalating epidemic threatens to accelerate the demographic crisis, seriously impact the workforce and national security, and put a heavy burden on the already strained health sector in the region.

This conference is being held in light of recent expanding national health spending in the most affected countries of the region. Domestic spending on AIDS in Russia is slated to increase by 20 times in 2006 to over US$100 million. In 2005, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin established HIV prevention as a national priority.

“AIDS is one of the greatest challenges facing Eastern Europe and Central Asia today,” said Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, during his keynote address at the conference. “Fear and stigma are truly the best friends of HIV. To get ahead of the epidemic, stigma and discrimination must be tackled head-on, and HIV prevention and treatment services must be urgently scaled up.”

The conference programme is divided into three parts: Leadership, Science and Community. The Leadership programme will focus on political, social, business and media leadership necessary to stem the epidemic. The scientific programme will bring together clinicians and researchers to provide critical insight into the various aspects of addressing HIV in the region (ranging from epidemiological surveillance to clinical treatment). The community programme will highlight the response of AIDS service organizations, NGOs and people living with HIV and provide a forum for exchange of knowledge and experience.

The expected outcomes of the conference are enhanced political leadership and commitment, increased technical capacity building, and partnerships with civil society and people living with HIV. The conference will set the stage for three major events on the global AIDS response: the High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York, June 2006; the G8 Summit in Saint Petersburg, July 2006; and the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, August 2006.

The Conference Organizing Committee is co-chaired by Dr. G.G. Onishenko, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumers Protection and Welfare, Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Craig McClure, President of the International AIDS Society. The committee is composed of international organizations and representatives of Russia and other CIS countries.

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Photo Gallery
Speech by UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot
Speech by Prof Lars O. Kallings, Special Envoy of the Secretary General for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia   (ru)

How one woman’s crusade is making a difference in Kenya

When rural girls and young women move to Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, in search of a better life, not all of them find it. Faced with limited educational training and the difficulties of earning a living—some end up as sex workers and at risk for HIV.

Professor Elizabeth Ngugi, a nurse by training, has been looking out for these young women since 1992 when she founded the Kenya Voluntary Women Rehabilitation Centre (KVOWRC). The center reaches out to sex workers in the slums of Nairobi who are looking for a better life. 

The center offers skills training and has a micro finance programme. Graduates of KVOWRC are now running small business. Professor Ngugi says by providing these services she and her team are helping young women re-build their self-esteem and make positive changes in their lives. “Every human being has a right to exploit their potential to the full.  The world has the obligation to give vulnerable women and children a chance,” she says.

In the city where number of children aged between 10 and 18 involved in sex work is increasing at an alarming rate, KVOWRC also focuses on HIV education and prevention, peer counseling and home based care for those who need it.

For the younger girls, many of whom are teenage mothers, the centre also provides a home and pays for school fees so they can complete their education. The centre also offers vocational training programs in tailoring, dressmaking, weaving, and tie and dye hairdressing, which are boosting their income and empowering them to abandon risky behavior. Most of the girls who come to the centre choose not to go back to the streets.

For one graduate it took a hairdressing course and a hair dryer to turn her life around. “It was not easy for me to get a job because I had no experience” she says. “Thanks to the KVOWRC training, I opened a small beauty salon, and am now able to pay my rent and buy food and clothing for myself and my two children.”

Related links
KVOWRC website: www.kvowrc.or.ke

Every day nearly 14 000 people around the world become infected with HIV. This means nearly 5 million new infections a year. An effective response to AIDS requires access to both HIV treatment and prevention. Unfortunately, HIV prevention efforts have for some time been overshadowed by the increased attention on treatment.  The complexities of having to discuss sensitive issues such as sex and drugs also contribute to denial and complacency. 

Recognizing the importance of HIV prevention as a central part of all AIDS work, the Government of Sweden and UNAIDS invited a group of policy makers, civil society representatives and the media to Stockholm this week to work together towards building a vocal constituency around HIV prevention.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Dr Peter Piot and Lennarth Hjelmaker, the Swedish HIV/AIDS Ambassador.

Hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), in collaboration with UNAIDS and the Swedish Association for Sexual Education (RFSU), the international meeting centered around setting priorities for more effective HIV prevention. This includes giving impetus to HIV prevention; advocating for the effective use of resources available for AIDS and getting all partners to work together.

Giving the global overview of the state of HIV prevention today, UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot said, “important progress has been made, but unfortunately it is not enough. Scaling up HIV prevention is critical for the success of the overall response to AIDS.”

Sweden has recognized the importance of emphasizing the importance of HIV prevention. Sweden’s contributions to the AIDS response have increased dramatically in the past few years, and its contribution to UNAIDS in 2006 increased by 33%, from around $ 20.5 million to $ 27.5 million.

Recognizing the importance of HIV prevention is only the first step,” said Carin Jämtin, Minister for International Development Cooperation in Sweden, speaking at the meeting. “Translating the recognition into reality on the ground is something else.  To move forward on prevention we need open eyes and open minds.”

Sweden is actively preparing for the 2006 High Level Meeting on AIDS, to be held in New York later this month. Sweden will become the Chair of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) at UNAIDS’ next board meeting at the end of June 2006.

From right: Representative of UN Secretary General, Executive Director UNAIDS, Dr Peter Piot; President of Niger Republic, Mamodou Tandja and President Council of Senate Senegal, Mbaye-Jacques Diop on arrival for the opening session of the meeting of Heads of State and Government at the Special Summit of the African Union on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja
Photo: Sunday Aghaeze

African leaders and Heads of State recently met in Abuja, Nigeria at a Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to address the challenges posed by the three diseases that kill an estimated four million Africans every year.

Organized by the African Union in collaboration with UN Agencies and other development partners, and at the invitation of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Special Summit adopted the Abuja Call for accelerated action towards Universal Access to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria (ATM) services in Africa, and a resolution to achieve this by 2010. The delegates also adopted an African Common Position to be presented to the High Level Meeting on AIDS in June 2006.

In the Abuja Call, participants urged for intensified leadership at all levels; further commitments regarding human rights; increased mobilization of resources including negotiations for debt cancellation; and collective advocacy with multilateral and bilateral donors.

African leaders renewed their commitment to allocate 15% of their national budgets to health, and to incorporate health financing plans into national development plans.

“For the first time the political commitment exists to work towards Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment and care, but getting this will require that once more we change gear and further accelerate the response to AIDS. We have no other options that will save entire societies”, said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo commended African countries for the progress they had so far made in responding to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The Nigerian leader called for the development of structures and systems guaranteeing better and more transparent utilization of funds, as well as for the development of strategies translating national level goals into community targets.

Press Conference after the closing of the Special Summit (left to right) Alpha Oumar Konaré, Chairperson of African Union Commission and former President of Mali; President Sassou-Nguesso of Republic of Congo, Chairman of the African Union; President Olusegun Obasanja of Nigeria, Host of the Special Summit and Alhaji Mamadou Tandja, President of Niger Republic
Photo: Sunday Aghaeze

Also speaking on the occasion, African Union Commission Chairperson, Prof. Alpha Konare, outlined measures Africa should adopt to successfully deliver AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria services. These include local production of essential medicines, greater mobilization of resources, more efficient utilization of resources, and ensuring access to the most vulnerable groups.

Sub-Saharan Africa has just over 10% of the world’s population, but is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV - 25.8 million. In 2005, an estimated 3.2 million people in the region became newly infected, while 2.4 million adults and children died of AIDS. Among young people aged 15-24 years, an estimated 4.6% of women and 1.7% of men were living with HIV in 2005.

Related links
Read Statement of the UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot at the Special Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Abuja, 4 May 2006  

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3 April 2006
4 April 2006

President Vladimir Putin gathered the Presidium of the State Council to discuss the HIV epidemic in Russia. In a groundbreaking move, the State Council examined all aspects of the growing epidemic in the country and agreed on a set of measures that will strengthen Russia’s response to the epidemic in an unprecedented manner.

On 21 April, President Vladimir Putin gathered the Presidium of the State Council to discuss the HIV epidemic in Russia. In a groundbreaking move, the State Council examined all aspects of the growing epidemic in Russia and agreed on a set of measures that will strengthen Russia’s response to the epidemic in an unprecedented manner. “The State Council meeting, chaired by President Vladimir Putin, marks an important milestone in the fight against AIDS in Russia. We welcome the decision to establish a National Commission to coordinate the Russian national response and a scaling up of prevention, treatment and care programmes” said UNAIDS Representative Bertil Lindblad. “The State Council reviewed all aspects of the epidemic and President Putin called for a comprehensive national strategy and the involvement of government ministries, civil society, the media and business".
 
Russia is facing an HIV epidemic concentrated among groups most at risk. As of today, 342,000 people living with HIV have been officially registered†. Experts believe, however, that this number is considerably higher. The fact that more and more women are contracting the disease and that most of the people living with HIV are under 35 is particularly worrying.

At the opening of the State Council, President Putin emphasized the urgent need of a more efficient AIDS response at all levels. “This is a serious situation that requires us to take the appropriate action. We need more than words; we need action, and the whole of Russian society must get involved. Of course, the people directly involved in dealing with HIV infection should take the lead in this area, but politicians, teachers, cultural figures and the mass media should all play an active part in this work” said President Putin.

The President called for more accurate monitoring of the HIV epidemic and for improved coordination between the federal ministries and agencies in their work. Carrying out preventive work among groups most at risk is considered of vital importance in scaling up Russia’s national AIDS response.

To achieve these objectives, Russia plans to establish a long-term strategy. The previous five-year sub-programme on HIV and AIDS ends this year. Over this period the rate of HIV infection was reduced from 88,000 cases in 2001 to 35,000 cases last year. The national health care project planned significant funding to prevent, diagnose, and treat HIV and viral hepatitis. Over 3 billion rubles ($109 million US) have been allocated for this year alone.

With respect to this, Russia will develop new accurate and objective HIV monitoring tools that meet common international standards. These new tools will enable Russia to make a real evaluation of the causes of the epidemic and the effectiveness of medical and social preventive measures.

The launch of a major wide reaching information campaign has been planned. The programme for the next five years will include prevention measures aimed at groups most at risk and teenagers. A good number of such projects and programmes are already underway in Russia, but they were not yet united by a common strategy.

Finally, the presidium of Russia's State Council has decided to set up a special government commission to review how the country deals with its growing problem of HIV infections. At Russia’s initiative, the AIDS issue has been included on the agenda for the upcoming G8 summit in St Petersburg.

† Source: Presidium of the State Council

In her new role as UNAIDS Special Representative, the Crown Princess Mette-Marit made a special visit to UNAIDS secretariat in Geneva to find out more about the epidemic and to meet some of the people involved in the AIDS response. Her Royal Highness will focus particularly on issues of stigma and discrimination as well as reaching out to young people and people living with HIV.

 “I am proud to be appointed UNAIDS Special Representative. UNAIDS plays an important role in coordinating the global effort to fight HIV and AIDS,” said the Crown Princess. “Making all powers pull in the same direction is vital in fighting such a complex issue. The UNAIDS staff is notably driven by deep dedication and strong sense of purpose.”

The Crown Princess met with UNAIDS staff of experts, including those living with HIV, and others from the UN System HIV positive Staff Group (UN+). During the meeting she praised the work the staff group is doing, “I am pleased to be with you here today and I believe you are showing leadership with your workplace initiatives at UNAIDS.”

HRH The Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway meets with members UN+ (UN System HIV-Positive Staff Group) at UNAIDS Secretariat.
(from left) HRH The Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway; Sigrun Mogedal, Norwegian HIV/AIDS Ambassador; Dr Peter Piot Executive Director UNAIDS; Debbie Landey, Deputy Executive Director UNAIDS; members of UN+.
Photo:UNAIDS/O. O'Hanlon

UN+ was formed in 2005 by UN staff living with HIV to give a voice to issues affecting those living with HIV and working in the UN system. Members of the group explained to the Crown Princess the overall aims of UN+.

Goals include contributing to the development and improvement of existing policies on HIV and AIDS at the UN agency level and to create a more enabling environment of all HIV-positive staff members, irrespectively of the level of disclosure of their HIV status.

Her Royal Highness asked the UN+ members about challenges faced by HIV-positive staff when considering disclosing their status to colleagues. “Fear is a big issue for many staff,” explained Kevin Moody. “Fear of discrimination at work and fear of losing your job. We also face a number of other challenges including issues around health insurance and the respect for confidentiality in the workplace.”

The group also pointed out that mobility and travel restrictions imposed on HIV positive people by many countries was a real challenge to employees of international organizations who often needed to travel or relocate for work.
 
Members of UN+ encouraged the Crown Princess in her new role as UNAIDS Special Representative to remind governments to implement and commit the GIPA Principles (GIPA, Greater involvement of people living with HIV adopted at the Paris AIDS summit 1994). “We want to communicate the value added in the AIDS response when involving people living with HIV and we hope you can help us to ensure the international community takes the principles further,” said another member of the group.

The Crown Princess will attend the upcoming International AIDS conference in Toronto later this year. Among other activities she will seek to include the GIPA principles in her effort to meet the AIDS challenge.

Related links
View photographs of the visit of UNAIDS Special Representative, HRH the Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway to UNAIDS

Panchu, holding his daughter for the first time

Nothing can be more devastating for a father than not being able to touch his own children. And that is exactly what happened to Panchu Bhol, a villager in the south-eastern state of Orissa, India. Many men from this poverty-stricken hinterland of Puri district migrate seasonally to Gujarat in search of livelihood. Panchu had also embarked on this migration route, regularly sending money to his family, until he contracted HIV in Surat, the port city of Gujarat.

News of Panchu’s HIV status spread like a wildfire. His family was excommunicated, and his village declared Panchu a curse. Even Panchu himself started to believe it. He lost the courage to pick up his daughter, fearing that he might infect her.  Banned from the village life, Panchu cried at his fate, seeing death as the only way out.

But an extraordinary event in December 2005 turned his life around. Panchu still remembers the mild afternoon breeze on the day when the Kalyani team came to his hamlet. Kalyani - meaning the one who provides welfare - is a television health telecast on Doordarshan, the national television of India. Since May of 2002 when it was launched, the program about building positive health behaviors has been reaching nearly 50% of India’s population.

Doordarshan national television is the world’s largest public broadcaster and a signatory to the Global AIDS Media Summit. Providing localized content, Doordarshan produces its key messages in consultation with the National AIDS Control Organisation and the Ministry of Health. Its telecasts feature short spots, folk songs, and informative segments with experts, in an attempt to tackle themes of HIV related stigma, discrimination and treatment.  Kalyani program also provides follow up action through expert visits to rural areas to interact with the target audiences.

Actors playing Kalyani characters ‘Sehri Didi and Chakulia Panda’, along with the rest of the Kalyani team, reached Panchu’s village. The team met an emaciated, bearded and confused Panchu. And as the villagers gathered to catch a glimpse of the movie stars, tears rolled out of Panchu’s eyes. It was the first time that someone had visited him since he had been diagnosed with HIV.

Informed of Panchu’s situation, Sehri Didi (the character portraying the sister’s role in the programme) offered to become Panchu’s “sister” in real life and tied him a raakhi, the traditional auspicious red thread. She also shared some sweets with him.

Sehri Didi challenged the villagers not to stigmatize her new “brother” Panchu. An elderly man from the crowd summed up the sentiments of the village: “You told us that HIV does not spread by touching people living with HIV or eating with them. Why should we hate Panchu? We are sorry we did not know this before.” 

Panchu was finally accepted. Having learned about means of HIV transmission, Panchu took his daughter into his arms for the first time. For Sehri Didi, accustomed to crying with glycerine on screen, it was difficult to control her tears. 

When the Kalyani team visited Panchu’s village three months later, they could hardly recognize him – now a clean shaven and confident young man championing HIV prevention. The doctor treating Panchu thanked the Kalyani team for removing a major hurdle in Panchu’s recovery – the social stigma. 

Kalyani program airs in the capital cities of eight highly populated Indian states  and there now exist nearly 2,000 community level Kalyani Health Clubs, with close to half million members.

In an attempt to step up the pace of HIV prevention in Africa, the African Union and United Nations launched a new initiative last week to scale up HIV prevention programmes in Africa.

The campaign, which was kicked off in Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Khartoum, and Ouagadougou, is a follow up to the Declaration adopted by African Ministers of Health in 2005, declaring 2006 as the “Year for Accelerating HIV Prevention in the African Region”.

HIV prevention deserves more serious attention if the goal of coming as close as possible to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care by 2010 is to be met. Without effective prevention activities, the impact of AIDS will become even more severe as more people becoming newly infected.

“AIDS responses must be exceptional, but not isolated, requiring balancing of political momentum on AIDS and putting countries in the lead” said UNAIDS Director for Country and Regional Support, Michel Sidibe. He also stressed the need for an appropriate balance between emergency action and long term commitment.

According to UNAIDS, AIDS poses the greatest threat to security and development in Africa. As a result, HIV prevention and treatment should be scaled up urgently. The number of new HIV infections in Africa must be dramatically reduced in the next few years to ensure that treatment, care and support remain economically and socially sustainable.

Despite efforts to fight AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, 3.2 million people were infected with HIV last year. HIV infections are rising most rapidly among young people under the age of 25 and women. 

The African prevention campaign is expected to build a powerful political and social movement that can finally reverse and stop the spread of HIV, which claimed 2.4 million African lives in 2005 alone. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region worst-affected by the epidemic with close to 26 million people living with HIV.

Wearing one of the T-shirts created in the “Designers against AIDS” project, Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005, helped kick start Russia’s Fashion Week 2006/07 and to raise AIDS awareness.

This was Natalie’s first trip back to her birthplace since she moved to Canada at the age of 12. She felt AIDS was too important an issue to miss an opportunity to talk with Russia’s young people about HIV.

“I urge young Russians, who are disproportionately affected by the epidemic, to help prevent the spread of HIV” Natalie said. “By getting tested, learning more about HIV and how to prevent transmission, and being tolerant towards people living with HIV, everyone can make a contribution in the AIDS response.”

Natalie’s recent three-day visit to Moscow included a round table discussion with experts on HIV testing, meetings with policy makers at the State Duma of the Russian Federation, discussions with representatives of the community of people living with HIV, as well as meetings with Russian celebrities and opinion leaders in business and media.
 
“Misinformation about AIDS, along with stigma and discrimination, is one of the greatest challenges that we must overcome to prevent further spread of the epidemic and improve the lives of people living with HIV,” she said.

Increasing awareness about AIDS has been the official cause of the Miss Universe competition since 1998. In 2005 Natalie Glebova began her reign with a trip to South Africa where she publicly took an HIV test, highlighting the importance of knowing one’s HIV status. Since then she has continued raising awareness and urging young people – especially young women– to know their HIV status. 

“According to the latest UNAIDS estimates, up to 1.4 million people in the Russian Federation are living with HIV. “A striking fact is their young age. 80% of people living with HIV in Russia are under 30, and the proportion of women among new HIV cases is growing fast” said Bertil Lindblad, UNAIDS Representative in the Russian Federation. By contrast, in North America and Western Europe, only 30% of all people infected are under 30.

During her stay in Moscow, Natalie met with people living with HIV to discuss challenges they face and means for improving the situation. She took a public HIV test and attended a confidential consultation at a Moscow clinic, to raise awareness about the importance of access to voluntary and confidential testing and counseling services. She also held meetings with policy makers to discuss how to improve access for Russians to these crucial services.

“Today, information is the only vaccine against HIV. Natalie’s visit to Russia makes a very tangible contribution to raising awareness, reducing stigma and, ultimately, saving lives,” said Avet Khachatrian, Director of Programs in Russia for Transatlantic Partners against AIDS. “Her dedication to the global AIDS response encourages public dialogue about HIV and strengthens the cross-sectoral cooperation that is essential to effectively respond to the epidemic,”

“The fight against AIDS in Russia is a fight to save a generation of young people at risk of getting infected” said Mikhail Rukavishnikov, Director of Community of People Living with HIV. “Natalie is a role model for young people in Russia who may be not aware of the need of getting tested. She is an inspiration and a critical voice for AIDS awareness, tolerance towards people living with HIV and prevention in Russia and worldwide.”

Natalie Glebova also reached out to mobilize the creative community and business circles in Russia to actively join the AIDS response, and raised awareness through media interviews as a spokesperson for the cause.

The visit to Russia was organized by UNAIDS, Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS, The Global Health Council and The Miss Universe Organization.

Related links
Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS
The Global Health Council
Miss Universe Organization

Heralded by UNAIDS as an example of ‘best practice’, a project that offers small loans to enable people living with HIV set up businesses is helping break down stigma and discrimination in Thailand.

Photo: UNAIDS/O.O'Hanlon

When married mother Nang Noi was told she had HIV three years ago, the fear of the disease and of the social rejection that might go with it was overwhelming. “I cried for five days straight. I did not think I could go on,” she said.

But through her own personal courage, the support of family and friends, and her involvement in a project that has given her the opportunity to set up two small businesses with her sister, Nang Noi has found ways to face her fears and counter AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

Nang Noi set up two small businesses – selling dried seafood snacks and offering traditional Thai massage – using a micro-credit business loan through Thailand’s biggest non-governmental organization, the Population and Community Development Association (PDA).

Funded by the Pfizer Foundation in Thailand, the PDA project – entitled the ‘Positive Partnership Project’ - offers loans to partnerships of people living with HIV and a ‘’buddy’’(often a friend or family member who is not living with HIV) to set up small business ventures.

As part of the terms of the project, each ‘buddy’ undertakes to be a community ambassador for people living with HIV. ‘Buddies’ talk to friends and neighbors about the realities of HIV, trying to replace fear around HIV with facts.

‘There is a great deal of stigma against people living with HIV - even when it comes to bank loans. A widespread – and unfounded - notion existed in Thailand that people living with HIV wouldn’t be able to pay back loans,’’ said PDA founder, Senator Mechai Viravaidya.

“We felt this theory could and should be tested.”

“We realized that to really make a difference, we needed to tackle the need for people living with HIV to sustain their livelihoods and to break down stigma simultaneously,’’ he added.

Since the official launch of the project in January 2004, around 750 partnerships running micro businesses such as food-selling, motorcycle repair and craft-making have started up, supported by PDA centers in north, northeast and central Thailand. By October 2005, PPP loan repayment rates of 84% exceeded the rate of repayments within the general Thai banking system.

‘’Nobody is more motivated to succeed than the people who are receiving these loans,’’ said Senator Mechai.

Taking charge of their professional lives, people living with HIV involved in the project report feeling an increase in respect shown towards them by others, and a growth in their own feelings of self-respect.

And surveys of community members in PPP project areas indicated that ten months after the loans schemes began ‘anxiety levels’ around (or fear of) AIDS and stigma against people living with HIV had dropped from around 47% to around 14%.

‘’In the beginning our neighbors were afraid to buy Nang Noi’s food. But after I talked to them, and explained the realities of HIV they slowly began to change and now regularly buy from us,’ said Nang Noi’s sister and PPP partner Ngeun.

Patrick Brenny, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Thailand, underlined the vital role the project plays for Thailand and for UNAIDS work in the country: ‘’Two of the most critical challenges facing persons living with HIV infection in Thailand today are the lack of sustainable livelihoods and the challenges of stigma and discrimination, both of which are priority areas for UNAIDS’ work in Thailand,” he said.

‘”The PPP is an excellent example of addressing the longer-term economic well-being of people living with HIV and their families, while at the same time tackling the community-based stigma and discrimination which hampers the integration of HIV positive individuals and their families into those very same communities,” he explained.
 
“As more and more people living with HIV in Thailand gain access to antiretroviral therapy through the National Health Security Scheme, the importance of the PPP and similar initiatives will grow in order to address both the economic as well as the social- and community-support challenges facing persons living with HIV infection and their families here in Thailand,” said Brenny.

Related links
Population and Community Development Association