 |
||||||
|
BANGKOK, Thailand, October 22, 2004 — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided a substantial boost to INNOVAIDS, PSI/Asia's existing HIV/AIDS prevention project targeting high-risk groups in the five countries of the Mekong River (China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) — almost $10 million for a two-year initiative. The funding will complement existing funding by the British Department for International Development (DFID). The USAID support will focus on supporting and extending prevention programs in these countries, including specific targeted interventions in each country: social marketing of condoms, lubricants and sexually-transmitted infection kits in Laos; social marketing in China; an integrated partnership with three non-governmental organizations for HIV prevention in Myanmar; expansion of drop-in centers for injecting drug users and condom social marketing in Thailand; and voluntary HIV counseling and testing in Vietnam. The recently launched Vietnam is PSI's 14th country in Asia, and the 15th and only Asian country to receive the support of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Although Vietnam has an HIV prevalence of only 0.4%, the lowest by far of any PEPFAR country, the disease has spread rapidly in specific subpopulations, particularly among injecting drug users and commercial sex workers. The highest prevalence rates are found in bordering provinces, large urban and industrial centers and tourist areas. In addition to the $10 million award, there is separate regional funding for the rapid start-up of innovative, seed projects focusing on behaviors and high transmission sites, or "hot spots," that are identified as the principal drivers of HIV in the region. PSI programs in Laos, Mynamar and Thailand prevented an estimated 3,380 primary HIV infections in 2003 and, with the addition of China and Vietnam, these new USAID resources are expected to increase substantially PSI's health impact in the region. — John Hetherington, PSI/Asia
|
 |
|
|||
|
|
||||||
