What's New

The 10th Asia-Pacific United Nations Prevention of Parent-To-Child Transmission (PPTCT) of HIV and Syphilis Task Force meeting was held from 15 to 17 September 2015 in Beijing, China. More than 230 participants from 19 Asia-Pacific countries, including 90 participants from provinces in China, as well as civil society and United Nations partners attended the meeting. The meeting focused on steps towards achieving and validating the elimination of parent-to-child transmission (EPTCT) of infectious diseases, and the integration of services to contribute to improving maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes.

The primary purpose of this Report is to motivate action and accountability, by reviewing commitments made and assessing areas of strength and weaknesses of implementation, in the context of the Pacific Leaders Gender Equality Declaration(PLGED). The Report is outlined as follows: Part 2 provides a brief summary of the Pacific's PLGED progress; Part 3 takes a closer look at national level progress; and Part 4 highlights key recommendations towards accelerating the six priority areas, drawing from regional and national experience.

kNOwVAWdata is a UNFPA initiative to support and strengthen sustainable regional and national capacity to measure violence against women (VAW). Over three-and-a-half years, from mid-2016 through the end of 2019, with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the kNOwVAWdata initiative will build on work already being supported by UNFPA to conduct VAW surveys and analysis in in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative will also ensure sustainability, including by strengthening capacities of national institutions to collect and analyze data, in particular by using internationally recognized, best practice survey methodologies. 

'kNOwVAWdata is a UNFPA initiative to support and strengthen sustainable regional and national capacity to measure VAW. Over three-and-a-half years, from mid-2016 through the end of 2019, with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the kNOwVAWdata initiative will build on work already being supported by UNFPA to conduct VAW surveys and analysis in in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative will also ensure sustainability, including by strengthening capacities of national institutions to collect and analyze data, in particular by using internationally recognized, best practice survey methodologies.

'kNOwVAWdata is a UNFPA initiative to support and strengthen sustainable regional and national capacity to measure violence against women (VAW). Over three-and-a-half years, from mid-2016 through the end of 2019, with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the kNOwVAWdata initiative will build on work already being supported by UNFPA to conduct VAW surveys and analysis in in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative will also ensure sustainability, including by strengthening capacities of national institutions to collect and analyze data, in particular by using internationally recognized, best practice survey methodologies.  In 2006, the UN General Assembly requested the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) to develop a set of possible indicators on violence against women to assist UN Member States in assessing the scope, prevalence and incidence of violence against women, building on the work of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. For this purpose, a working group named 'Friends of the Chair' (FoC) was established by the UN Statistical Commission in 2008. The core set of indicators proposed in 2009 and adopted in 2011 are listed in the box below. Because of the name of the working group, these indicators are also sometimes referred to as the 'FoC VAW indicators'.

The dual goals of elimination of parent-to-child transmission (EPTCT) of HIV and syphilis areaspirational, although challenging for countries to achieve. The adoption of these goals – and for some countries triple elimination with the inclusion of screening for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) – has been instrumental to efforts to meet MDG 6. They are also important to realizing the health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the international community in September 2015.

'kNOwVAWdata is a UNFPA initiative to support and strengthen sustainable regional and national capacity to measure Violence against Women (VAW). Over three-and-a-half years, from mid-2016 through the end of 2019, with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the kNOwVAWdata initiative will build on work already being supported by UNFPA to conduct VAW surveys and analysis in in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative will also ensure sustainability, including by strengthening capacities of national institutions to collect and analyze data, in particular by using internationally recognized, best practice survey methodologies. 

The report provides health information on maternal and child health attendances, sexually transmitted diseases, infectious diseases, etc.

In order to maximize investments for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, the Global Fund is supporting countries in integrating interventions for these diseases into sexual and reproductive health services. These services provide a country’s health care system with a critical opportunity to reach people living with and affected by the three diseases. For example, many countries use antenatal care visits to provide pregnant women and their families with insecticide-treated nets to protect them from malaria. Treating men, women and transgender people for sexually transmitted infections is an important element in the response to AIDS. Reaching key populations with comprehensive and quality sexual health and rights services is a critical HIV prevention strategy. And it is through reproductive care services that women can access treatment to prevent transmission of HIV to their unborn children. Everyone deserves access to comprehensive and quality sexual health and rights services.

The year 2015 has been an interesting and challenging one for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. The Ministry reviewed its performance over the last 5 years and developed its National Strategic Plan 2016-2020, which was launched in December 2015. The Annual Report 2015 highlights the key achievements and challenges which include a comprehensive health outcome report that demonstrates Ministry‟s performance against key health indicators. There has been progress made in some areas and the challenges faced in progressing in other areas are also acknowledged, as health status is affected by many factors some of which are beyond the health sector. There is a need for a whole of society approach to address the growing burden of NCDs and MoHMS has been promoting and strengthening the Wellness Approach to health over the past year and will continue to do so. The Ministry continues to take a broader approach to handling challenges and is continuously working on improving efficiency and engaging with key partners in extending health service delivery.