SEA/RC67/19 - Regional Health Sector Strategy on HIV, 2011–2015 (SEA/RC64/R6)

Abstract

The Sixty-fourth Regional Committee endorsed the Regional HIV Strategy, 2011–2015 and requested WHO to support Member States in adapting and implementing it. Since then, Member States in the South-East Asia Region have made significant progress in HIV prevention, care and treatment. • The HIV epidemic is declining in the South-East Asia Region: the estimated number of new infections in adults (‎15–49 years)‎ has declined by 34%, from 350 000 in 2001 to 230 000 in 2012; and in children (‎0–14 years)‎ by 32%, from 28 000 to 19 000. • In 2012, 940 000 people with advanced HIV infection were receiving antiretroviral treatment (‎ART)‎. However, this accounted for only 55% of those in need of treatment, and lagged behind the global average of 61% on ART in 2012. ART coverage in children is 39% and lags behind coverage in adults. • HIV infection among pregnant women has shown a steady decline in high-burden countries, but there are pockets of high-prevalence areas. • Countries with dual epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis (‎TB)‎ have made substantial progress in implementing collaborative activities; however, detection of HIV–TB co-infected patients remains low. Continued commitments are critical for further reducing the burden of HIV and sustaining the gains. The regional priorities will be: • to complete roll out of the WHO Consolidated guidelines (‎2013)‎; • to improve access to and quality of HIV treatment through linkage and decentralization to the subdistrict level; • to mobilize and obtain resources through the new funding model of the Global Fund; • to enhance capacity for data analysis and use of information for decision-making within Member States; and • to position HIV in the broader health and development agenda beyond 2015. The High-Level Preparatory (‎HLP)‎ Meeting held in the Regional Office in New Delhi from 14–17 July 2014 reviewed the attached report and made the following recommendations: Action by Member States (‎1)‎ Countries should accelerate activities to reach defined country targets by 2015. Action by the WHO Regional Office (‎1)‎ WHO should coordinate with other partners on the development of the strategy to position HIV in the broader health and development agenda The report and the HLP recommendations are submitted to the Sixty-seventh Session of the Regional Committee for its consideration.