Are Key Populations Really the “KEY” to Ending AIDS in Asia? Putting Asia’s HIV response back on track

Overview

Countries in Asia are often praised for successfully controlling their HIV epidemics and for bringing life-saving treatment to millions of people living with HIV (PLHIV). So much so, that in some quarters, it is assumed the end of AIDS is imminent in this region.

But how valid is that assumption? How accurate is the prevailing understanding of the region’s HIV epidemic and its likely trajectory? How suitable are the current programmes, governance arrangements, service delivery approaches, and funding provisions in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC)? Will “more of the same” really lead to the end of AIDS in Asia?

These were some of the questions examined during a think tank meeting on “Revisiting Strategies for Intervention among Key Populations for HIV,” held in February 2018. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, partners, community participants, and other experts from across the Region. It was convened by the World Health Organization, South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO), and held in New Delhi, India.

The meeting reviewed the latest trends in Asia’s HIV epidemic and response, discussed ongoing and emerging challenges, and proposed actions to put all countries in the Region on track to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

The New Delhi meeting also marked a decade since the publication of the landmark Report of the Commission on AIDS in Asia: Redefining AIDS in Asia. It provided an opportunity for participants to review the progress made since 2008 - particularly in prioritizing programmes for preventing and treating HIV infection in populations most at risk.