ID :
73939
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 09:55
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https://www.oananews.org//node/73939
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PROPER RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS ISSUES IS A MUST TO MDG
Denpasar, Aug 5 (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie said if every nation failed to respond to HIV/AIDS issues properly, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals reducing poverty, hunger, maternal and infant mortality will slow down.
"Unresolved, these challenges will slow down the overall progress of development to which we all aspire. We face many common challenges but, reflecting the great diversity across our region there is also variety in the face of the epidemic and in our responses," says he, as Indonesia will host the ninth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), on August 9-13 in Bali.
Many countries and international participants will discuss many things, not only HIV/AIDS issues. The issues will be expanded en to human rights, poverty, welfare, and many more. The theme of the 9th ICAAP is Empowering People, Strengthening Networks and the Congress has been structured to facilitate the process.
Bakrie stated, although the focus of the Congress is HIV and AIDS, let us not forget that the impact of HIV infection reaches many fields besides health, thus it is important that we take a broader perspective as we analyze experiences and plans for the future. "Sadly, no region in our country is free of HIV," he said.
Meanwhile, Director of UNAIDS Regional Asia and Pasific, Prasada Rao, said, "The Congress will be an opportunity to take note of progress we have made, identify common challenges, share innovative solutions and renew commitments."
UNAIDS, as co-sponsor, takes great pleasure in supporting Indonesia's hosting the 9th ICAAP scheduled to be held from August 9 to 13, 2009, one year before the end for the achievement of Universal Access targets in 2010.
Indonesia, he said, in particular, will have the opportunity to show how much progress can be made when there is political will.
Indonesia was one of the first Asian countries to develop a far-sighted national policy in 2006 which decriminalised drug users and provided legal immunity to those seeking methadone treatment or sterile needles at appointed institutions, including those in prisons.
"Antiretroviral treatment coverage has registered a 21 percent increase from December 2006 to December 2007 and community groups were involved in all aspects of advocacy and services," he added.
As the President of AIDS Asia-Pasific, Myung-Hwan Cho in his remarks at the Launch of the 9th ICAAP in June 2008, cited two quotes from the Report of the Commission on AIDS in Asia, which are worth mentioning again.
"The first goes to the importance of human rights and the second exemplifies the importance for us not to become side tracked in our response across the region. Previous congresses have shown that these issues must remain the center of our focus," he said.
ICAAP was first held in Canberra, Australia in 1990, the Congress has been held in New Delhi, Chiang Mai, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Kobe and most recently, in Colombo. The decision to award the 9th ICAAP to Indonesia is particularly important, since Indonesia is strategically located to represent Asia and the Pacific.
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"Unresolved, these challenges will slow down the overall progress of development to which we all aspire. We face many common challenges but, reflecting the great diversity across our region there is also variety in the face of the epidemic and in our responses," says he, as Indonesia will host the ninth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), on August 9-13 in Bali.
Many countries and international participants will discuss many things, not only HIV/AIDS issues. The issues will be expanded en to human rights, poverty, welfare, and many more. The theme of the 9th ICAAP is Empowering People, Strengthening Networks and the Congress has been structured to facilitate the process.
Bakrie stated, although the focus of the Congress is HIV and AIDS, let us not forget that the impact of HIV infection reaches many fields besides health, thus it is important that we take a broader perspective as we analyze experiences and plans for the future. "Sadly, no region in our country is free of HIV," he said.
Meanwhile, Director of UNAIDS Regional Asia and Pasific, Prasada Rao, said, "The Congress will be an opportunity to take note of progress we have made, identify common challenges, share innovative solutions and renew commitments."
UNAIDS, as co-sponsor, takes great pleasure in supporting Indonesia's hosting the 9th ICAAP scheduled to be held from August 9 to 13, 2009, one year before the end for the achievement of Universal Access targets in 2010.
Indonesia, he said, in particular, will have the opportunity to show how much progress can be made when there is political will.
Indonesia was one of the first Asian countries to develop a far-sighted national policy in 2006 which decriminalised drug users and provided legal immunity to those seeking methadone treatment or sterile needles at appointed institutions, including those in prisons.
"Antiretroviral treatment coverage has registered a 21 percent increase from December 2006 to December 2007 and community groups were involved in all aspects of advocacy and services," he added.
As the President of AIDS Asia-Pasific, Myung-Hwan Cho in his remarks at the Launch of the 9th ICAAP in June 2008, cited two quotes from the Report of the Commission on AIDS in Asia, which are worth mentioning again.
"The first goes to the importance of human rights and the second exemplifies the importance for us not to become side tracked in our response across the region. Previous congresses have shown that these issues must remain the center of our focus," he said.
ICAAP was first held in Canberra, Australia in 1990, the Congress has been held in New Delhi, Chiang Mai, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Kobe and most recently, in Colombo. The decision to award the 9th ICAAP to Indonesia is particularly important, since Indonesia is strategically located to represent Asia and the Pacific.
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