World AIDS Day 2019 was commemorated at WHO SEARO on 2 December 2019. A Regional publication titled ‘Moving ahead on elimination of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in WHO South-East Asia Region - progress and challenges’ was also released on the occasion. On behalf of Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO, the publication was released by Dr Tjandra Aditama, Ag. Director, Department of Communicable Diseases (CDS), who also conveyed Regional Director’s message to the participants. The need for shifting gears from a steady progress to a more rapid progress was emphasized.
In line with the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day - ‘Communities make the difference’, representatives of people living with HIV, as well as those who are most affected by it, such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender persons and persons who inject drugs, were the key participants at this brief commemoration event. In addition to community representatives who attended in-person from India, WHO Country Offices in Bangladesh, Indonesia (from two locations), Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste facilitated participation of community representatives from their respective countries.
Dr Bilali Camara, UNAIDS Country Director for India, and Dr Shobini Rajan, Assistant Director General (ADG), National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), India, also graced the occasion. National AIDS programme representatives of other countries, as well as, partner organizations also participated, via videoconferencing and in-person. This was followed by Dr Mukta Sharma (RA, HIV/TB/HEP/STI) co-facilitating the community discussions along with Ms Mona Balani, a community leader who is living with HIV, and WCO focal points in countries following the same with their respective community participants
Community members shared their personal experiences, especially how they contribute to the response to HIV, in their individual and organizational capacities. They also offered recommendations on using these experiences moving forward not only in accelerating HIV responses, but also towards a broader UHC agenda. As recommendations, community members stressed on the following key themes:
- Integrated approaches towards UHC: Need to have more integrated approaches that address health issues holistically, not only for HIV and closely related conditions such as TB, viral hepatitis and STIs, but also from a broader UHC point of view;
- Resilient ‘Systems for Health’: Ensure resilient systems for health, where the health care needs especially for those who are more vulnerable in the society, including Key Populations and economically and socially disadvantaged are taken care of in a more sustainable manner;
- Sustained community engagement: Ensure mechanisms to have more regular engagement and participation of communities in the design, implementation, and monitoring of health programmes; and
- ‘Leave no one behind’ and equity: Keep central, human rights aspects in all health programmes, especially where Key Populations are disproportionately affected. Ensure issues of stigma and discrimination do not hamper access to healthcare and the principles of equity and ‘leave no behind’, are upheld, throughout.
Participants thanked WHO SEARO for organizing such an event to interact and share experiences on community engagement in health with fellow participants from across the Region. UNAIDS Country Director in his address, praised the vibrant community voices in the Region and thanked WHO leadership in committing on issues at the intersection of health and human rights. Dr Lin Aung, Coordinator, CDS, delivered closing remarks and reiterated WHO’s commitment to people-centred approach to health, as strengthened through WHO’s new General Programme of Work (GPW).