Pubdate: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 Source: International Herald-Tribune (International) Copyright: International Herald Tribune 2007 Contact: http://www.iht.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/212 Author: Associated Press ASIAN MEDICAL EXPERTS APPEAL FOR GLOBAL ATTENTION TO GROWING HIV/AIDS CRISIS UNITED NATIONS: Asian medical experts appealed for global action to help curb the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in their region, home to more than 8.5 million infected people. "The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia is often overlooked, compared to Africa .. how many infections do we need before taking action?" Baatar Choisuren, Mongolia's U.N. ambassador, said Wednesday. The briefing by officials from Malaysia, India and Mongolia was sponsored by UNAIDS, the U.N. joint program on the epidemic. Asia has the second-highest level of HIV infection in the world after sub-Saharan Africa, and most victims belong to marginalized social groups which do not receive adequate support, according to Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman of the Malaysian AIDS Council. Approximately 630,000 infected people in the region died last year, according to UNAIDS. Today on IHT.com Italy swapped 5 jailed Taliban for a hostage North Korean nuclear talks break down abruptly Again, bodies are mutilated in Mogadishu's streets She said the most at-risk populations -- including intravenous drug users, sex workers, migratory laborers and men who have sex with men - -- are not being reached by prevention, treatment and care programs. "In Asia particularly, HIV/AIDS issues have not been openly discussed by virtue of their nature involving sex, sexuality and drug use," Kamarulzaman said. "What governments need to do is not be squeamish about these difficult areas if we are going to be effective in reducing HIV/AIDS in the region." A UNAIDS document distinguishes "men who have sex with men" from homosexuals, because most "living outside the West are not identifiable as such, they live and work in their communities unremarked and are often heads of families with children." The high-risk group, which also includes transgenders, has received increasing attention by UNAIDS in recent years. Because of the illegality of homosexual activity, prostitution and drug use in many Asian countries, Kamarulzaman said it is difficult to get legal support for prevention efforts. Suresh Kumar, director of the National AIDS Control Organization in India's health ministry, stressed the need to increase political commitment from Asian governments. Kumar said there was a lack of coordination between agencies to effectively approach the problem. The nongovernmental organizations which do exist are too weak to deliver nationwide services, and the government offices are not committed, he said. "Right now, it is very confused and muddled," he said. "We need to work to sort it all out." Kumar also discussed what he called the "unpreparedness" of U.N. agencies to deal with the epidemic. He said the U.N. Population Fund is mandated solely for sex work, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime is not very strong, and there is no program yet which specifically targets men having sex with men. UNAIDS figures show that the epidemic in Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar appears to be stable or diminishing, but there are rising levels of infection in China, Indonesia and Vietnam. In June 2006, only about 16 percent of infected people in Asia were receiving antiretroviral treatment, UNAIDS said. Myanmar's U.N. Ambassador Kyaw Tint Swe was optimistic about his own country's progress, but asked for regional cooperation. "We need political commitment at the highest level, we need resources, we need cooperation and we need strategic initiatives to confront HIV/AIDS," he said. Most of the funding for prevention and treatment programs in Asia comes from external resources such as the Global Fund, an independent organization in which UNAIDS participates. The U.N. passed a landmark resolution in 2000 citing HIV/AIDS as a threat to national security. Last June, the General Assembly adopted a political declaration calling it a "global emergency" which requires a "global response." The assembly will meet on May 30 for its annual debate on the epidemic. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman