September 2009

Asia Pacific plans for UNGASS on HIV

Civil society groups in Asia and the Pacific are mobilising early for next year's UNGASS on HIV. Recent news from the region indicates that the Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organizations (APCASO) will be coordinating the civil society response in the lead up to UNGASS across the region. Discussions among civil society groups have started at the recent 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) in a session titled "UNGASS & Community" with support from the 7 Sisters, World AIDS Campaign and several other key agencies.

Civil society in Asia Pacific are mobilising early for next year's UNGASS on HIV. There will be some linkages between the recent UNGASS on drugs and this upcoming UNGASS on HIV.
Added on 19 September 2009

Taiwan - Harm reduction for young people

Pascal Tanguay, Communications Manager at the Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)  delivered a keynote address at the 2009 Asia Pacific Anti-Drug Conference, focusing this year on adolescent care, on 9 September in Taipei, Taiwan. The presentation on harm reduction strategies for young people was developed with the support of YouthRISE and delivered with success to an audience consisting mostly of educators.

AHRN and YouthRISE have been working together to engage Taiwanese policy makers on issue of harm reduction for young people.
Added on 19 September 2009

UK injectable heroin trial reports remarkable progress with “entrenched” addicts

The RIOTT (randomized injectable opioid therapy trial) project run by the Institute of Psychiatry in London presented an initial overview of its data at a conference this week. The trial compared treatments using optimized oral methadone, injectable methadone and injectable diamorphine (pharmaceutical heroin). The clients came from a “hard-to-treat” population who had benefitted little from conventional oral methadone treatments.

Results from an initial overview of the randomized injectable opioid therapy trial (RIOTT) has shown that clients form a 'hard-to-treat' population responded well and made notable gains in abstaining from street heroin and improvements in health and social functioning.
Added on 19 September 2009

Indonesian human rights group call for non-discrimination of people living with HIV

In August, Indonesia hosted the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP IX). In Indonesia, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) have for too long stigmatized and discriminated for their illness. The Indonesian National AIDS Commission (KPAN) has to play a more active role in ensuring that not just AIDS is reduced, but beyond that that PLHAs will no longer be stigmatized and discriminated against.

In Indonesia, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) have for too long stigmatized and discriminated for their illness. The Indonesian National AIDS Commission (KPAN) has to play a more active role in ensuring that not just AIDS is reduced, but beyond that that PLHAs will no longer be stigmatized and discriminated against.
Added on 19 September 2009