Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia

An independent Commission on AIDS in Asia set up to better understand and analyze the potential impact of AIDS on economies, societies, individuals and families, convened a workshop in Dhaka attended by government and civil society representatives of Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The sub-regional workshop was convened by the Commission on AIDS in Asia to serve as a forum for Commission members to learn about the field challenges and country experiences in the response to AIDS, and also to solicit views from country stakeholders regarding key policy issues on AIDS

Participating countries highlighted issues which cut across the sub-region.  It was recognized that, if unabated, AIDS is going to become the largest potential cause of adult mortality and work days lost in South Asia.  At the end of 2006, UNAIDS estimated there were 7.8 million persons living with HIV, 860,000 new infections and over half a million deaths in South and South-East Asia and the numbers are growing rapidly. 
Despite the involvement of political leadership in the region the urgency of response is not.  In part, this is due to the impact of AIDS in South Asia is mainly felt at the household level and does not register in macro level indicators. 

A major concern regarding sustainability of AIDS responses in the region was the heavy reliance on external resources.  Less than 5 percent of the national AIDS response is domestically funded in most countries in the region.
Launched in July 2006 in New Delhi, India, the Commission on AIDS in Asia brings together 9 of Asia’s leading development economists, policy makers, public health experts and civil society representatives working on AIDS. The goal of this Commission is to generate strong evidence-based policy recommendations to guide and mobilize leaders and governments in the region to urgently respond to the AIDS epidemic.

“The Commission needs to suggest concrete policy options in the areas of prevention, treatment and care and impact mitigation to significantly move the AIDS response forward in Asia and the Pacific,” concluded Dr Rangarajan during the sub-regional workshop in Dhaka.  The Commission will bring out a Report at the end of 2007 with its recommendations, which will be widely disseminated.