Media Advisory: Averting HIV Epidemics in Asian and Pacific Countries

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — A number of Asian and the Pacific countries have very low rates of HIV infection – less than 0.1 per cent – and can still prevent serious epidemics, at relatively low cost. Representatives from 11 low-prevalence countries will meet at the Chinggis Khaan Hotel in Ulaanbaatar to discuss how.

In this first meeting of its kind, experts from governments, civil society and international organizations will share experiences – on actions taken to reduce risky behaviour, for example. They will identify obstacles and opportunities, and strategies for scaling up national responses to AIDS .

The aim is to help countries develop their own “roadmaps” towards achieving universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support services by 2010, as called for by the UN’s 2006 High-Level Meeting on AIDS in June.

Participating countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

“These countries have a unique opportunity to keep HIV at bay, if they act now,” said J.V.R. Prasada Rao, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific. “But they cannot be complacent. Small socio-economic changes, like a shift in migration or greater availability of injectable drugs, could trigger larger epidemics.”

The conference organizers are the Government of Mongolia, the UN Country Team in Mongolia, UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and UNAIDS.

A press conference on 24 October at 3 p.m. will feature: Mr. L. Gundalai, Minister of Health, Mongolia; Mr. Sultan Aziz, Director, Asia and the Pacific Division, UNFPA; Ms. Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia; and Mr. Rao of UNAIDS.

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Contact Information:

William A. Ryan, mobile +976 9909 2012 or +66 9897 6984, ryanw@unfpa.org

P. Jargalsaikhan, mobile +976 9913 5393, jargalsaikhan@unfpa.org