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NGOs, other agencies gather |
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Posted on 5 July 2007 MANILA –Various organizations and government agencies involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country gathered to share success stories and challenges at a workshop that launched the latest Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project against the epidemic. Close to 60 participants from various institutions across the country attended the Inception Workshop for the ADB Regional Technical Assistance for Fighting HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific - Subproject 5: Strengthening Country Response to HIV/AIDS among High-Risk Groups (otherwise known as RETA 6321) on 2 July 2007 at the Astoria Plaza Hotel in Pasig City. The Project aims to improve the effectiveness of the national and local response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and overseas Filipino works (OFWs) and support DOH in developing more feasible approaches and/or interventions for these groups at risk.
In her welcome remarks, PRIMEX President and CEO Elvira Ablaza said the activity was the first of a series of national consultations under the Project intended to inform the stakeholders about this new initiative and lay the groundwork for the establishment of linkages and information exchange between the Project and the stakeholders. In his opening statement, ADB Country Director Thomas Crouch told participants that the ADB’s strategic response to the growing epidemic recognizes the links between development, poverty, and HIV/AIDS. “The purpose of ADB’s support is to have an effective response to HIV/AIDS in place at the country and regional level in Asia and the Pacific,” Crouch said. He added that ADB is pleased to “accept its part in this shared responsibility and intends to work with the partners to be jointly accountable for the results.” Health Undersecretary Ethelyn P. Nieto, in her keynote speech, said that, while the Philippines has done well in many aspects of the HIV response, especially in the area of policy and legislations, “there remain numerous challenges to face, for instance in working with intravenous drug users (IDUs).” “The Philippines has been known as one of the countries where the HIV situation is said to be ‘low and slow, hidden and growing’,” Nieto said. “However, there is no room for complacency, as the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) has shown that the number of new cases reported to the HIV registry has started to steadily increase over the past five years.” The sharing of experiences and lessons learned among agencies summarized existing initiatives for OFWs and their ‘significant others’ in the areas of information, education and communication (IEC), as well as partnership with the private sector, among others. While various psycho-social and medical services by the NGOs were presented for IDUs, issues like the need to review national policies regarding drug prevention and abuse, the need to train younger leaders in working for IDUs, and the need for regular surveillance and information management were likewise highlighted. The discussions will be integrated in the detailed planning for this HIV/AIDS Project. Government agencies represented at the workshop were the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Other organizations present were the UNAIDS, Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF), PATH Philippines, Pinoy Plus Association, Positive Action Foundation of the Phils (PAFPI), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), Social Hygiene Clinic/Local AIDS Councils of General Santos, Cebu City, and Zamboanga City, Foreign Service Institute, Human Development and Empowerment Services (HDES), and Social Health, Environment, and Development, Inc. (SHED). (with notes from Zoh Gonzales)
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