[procaare] Focused online discussion on Universal Access in Asia

["SEA-AIDS" <procaare@healthnet.org>]

UA in Asia: Focused online discussion on Universal Access in Asia
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SEA-AIDS send an email to: join-sea-aids@eforums.healthdev.org
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At the UNGASS 2006 meeting, the international community launched a 
"Universal Access" (UA) campaign. Under this framework, national 
governments have pledged to come as close as possible to universal 
access to HIV/AIDS treatment, care and prevention services by 2010. 
Targets have been set, and rough budgets to meet those targets have 
been established. It remains to be seen how close to "universal" 
access will really be in 2010.

It is recognized that the engagement of civil society in planning, 
implementing and documenting national efforts to reach "universal" 
access will be critical to the success of these efforts.

To support this engagement, ITPC, APN+, 7 sisters, WAC, AHRN and 
HDN have launched a project entitled "Universal Access in Asia and 
the Pacific: Voices and perceptions of affected communities". The 
project includes Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Papua new Guinea, 
Indonesia, Malaysia, Yunnan province in China and Manipur state in 
India. The aim is to document civil society responses to and 
community engagement in the UA process. In particular, the project 
aims to document:
* Local voices and experiences related to UA, particularly from 
people living with HIV, and marginalized populations (i.e. 
injecting drug users, sex workers, mobile populations);
* Civil society engagement in and understanding of UA;
* Issues related to UA and government commitments to UA in the 
region.

As a part of this project, the partners are launching a focused 
online discussion of Universal Access on SEA-AIDS beginning on 
Monday, 12 May. During the next three months (May-July 2008), this 
online discussion will introduce specific themes and questions 
relating to universal access, based in part on the regional 
framework developed by civil society during the preparation of the 
Independent Commission on AIDS report in late 2007 (available at: 
http://www.icaap8.lk/closing_ceremony/StatementCommunity.ppt#256,1,Slide%201).

Along with this online discussion, a dozen Key Correspondents from 
across the region are documenting what "Universal Access" means for 
people at the grassroots level.

The final compilation of this documentation will be used to produce 
country-specific bulletins. We will be pleased to acknowledge your 
contributions in the final publications and possibly include some 
quotes. When you send messages, please use names which you are 
willing to have used in the final publication, or you can write 
your reply anonymously as well.

Thanks and looking forward to your active participation!

Asia Pacific Network of people living with HIV (APN+)
Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN)
The Coalition of Asia-Pacific Regional Network on HIV/AIDS (Seven Sisters)
Health & Development Networks (HDN)
International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC)
World AIDS Campaign (WAC)