HIV

HIV Working Group

The HIV Working Group works closely with the HIV Network, which comprises international and domestic HIV organisations and medical institutions.

Working Group convenor:

Chad Hughes, Burnet Institute

Facts and figures

An estimated 40.3 million people worldwide are living with HIV. The Asia-Pacific Region alone accounts for 8.3 million people living with HIV.
HIV undermines the efforts to reduce poverty in developing countries (through reducing productivity and economic development and destroying families).
Australia is providing significant funding ($600 million from 2000 to 2010) to address HIV especially in the Asia Pacific Region.

HIV Mainstreaming

One of the ways to approach the response to HIV is through HIV mainstreaming. Mainstreaming means integrating HIV into all strategic planning and into day-to-day operations of an organisation while continuing to focus on core business.

Oxfam's work on HIV mainstreaming

HIV in Papua New Guinea

PNG has a generalised epidemic (2% of the adult population by end of 2005)
PNG has the highest incidence of HIV in the Pacific Region
Heterosexual transmission is the main means of infection
Recent indicators show that the 15–24 age group has the highest incidence and indicators show more women than men infected
The high presence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in PNG and high incidence of gender-based violence increases the chances of contracting HIV
Access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment is very challenging in rural and remote areas
There is considerable stigma/shame associated with HIV infection in PNG
HIV is placing stress on an already over-burdened health system.

Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS

The Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS, produced by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, sets out a number of guiding principles which apply a human rights approach to the range of HIV/AIDS-specific health, development and humanitarian work undertaken by NGOs responding to HIV/AIDS. These principles provide a common framework applicable to all NGOs engaged in responding to HIV/AIDS, and are embodied within good practice principles, which guide both how we work as NGOs and what we do.

It also includes information about the process of 'signing on' to the Code and about implementation of the Code.

Asia-Pacific HIV crisis looming

An Australian study says the effort to control the spread of HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific is failing and a region-wide pandemic is looming. Speaking on the Asia Pacific program on 7 March 2007, the study's author, Bill Bowtell, the Director of the Lowy Institute's HIV/AIDS Project, told Radio Australia's Graeme Dobell that new HIV infections are rising alarmingly.

Bill Bowtell presentation

HIV — Prevention Measures

A range of measures is suggested to help prevent rising HIV infection rates. In March 2007, WHO and UNAIDS announced recommendations following expert consultation on male circumcision for HIV prevention. They recommend that male circumcision should now be recognised an an additional important intervention to reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men.

New Data on Male Circumcision and HIV Prevention: Policy and Programme Implications - Conclusion and Recommendations (March 2007)