Aid agencies seek to strengthen HIV networks for children in Asia-Pacific amid economic slump

• ICAAP side event highlights coordinated approaches to children’s needs
• World Vision exhibit, drawing thousands, to raise AIDS awareness in Indonesia

Bali, Indonesia, August 11, 2009—As more than 3,000 experts from 65 countries gather on the Indonesian island of Bali for the ICAAP 9 meetings on HIV and AIDS, World Vision and partners are preparing new networks to keep children safe from the effects of the pandemic throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The Coalition on Children Affected by AIDS, UNICEF, World Vision and other child-focused agencies jointly held an ICAAP satellite event focusing on how to improve coordination of HIV interventions specific to children, an approach that often lacks sufficient resources.

Dr. Kyi Minn, World Vision’s regional advisor for health, HIV and AIDS, said the current economic climate shouldn’t cause community advocacy on the issue to scale down. “This year has been difficult with the financial crisis and budget limitations,” said Dr. Minn. “Despite the downturn, all actors can still keep prevention and response on their agenda.”

An estimated five million people are living with HIV and AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region. While several countries can show success in curbing the spread of the virus, other emerging hotspots like Papua New Guinea and Indonesia’s West Papua region reveal that the struggle is far from over.

Children and youth are among the most vulnerable groups, both in contracting the virus and in facing its effects - stigma, isolation, bereavement and crushing household poverty. World Vision has been calling for targeted HIV interventions to protect children including improved prevention of mother to child transmission as well as better education and life skills for teenagers.

World Vision is also highlighting the vital role community leaders must fill in addressing the detrimental effects of HIV-related stigma. As well as increasing children’s vulnerability to neglect, community stigma contributes the spread of HIV and AIDS because it instills fear of being tested.

The “One Life Evolution” interactive exhibit launched in Bali this week by World Vision Indonesia promotes understanding and empathy for people living with HIV and AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. Visitors follow the life journey of a person from Cambodia, India or Indonesia who is affected by the virus. The exhibition, which will also visit Surabaya and Jakarta, will provide young Indonesians with information to protect themselves from HIV.

Indonesian AIDS Commission Secretary Nafsiah Mboi opened the exhibition with a reminder on the importance of reducing stigma. Despite new laws to protect the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, “stigma and discrimination still exists in our workplaces,” said Nafsiah.

ICAAP, the International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, is held every two years to establish clear paths for HIV prevention in the region. ICAAP 9 runs from August 9 to 13.

For more information:
On World Vision’s Asia-Pacific HIV and AIDS programs: http://wvasiapacific.org/hivandaids/
On the One Life Evolution: http://onelifeevolution.com/
On ICAAP 9: http://www.icaap9.org


World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world’s poor regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press.