What's New

This fourth progress report of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition reviews the progress in the 28 focus countries and complements the three previous progress reports. This report describes key developments in 2019–2020, identifies challenges and opportunities (including those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic) and outlines priorities for the years ahead. It is divided into two main sections.  

This paper provides a preliminary understanding of how the Covid-19 pandemic influences the prevalence of VAW within Asia and the Pacific. The structure of the paper is as follows: the second section provides background on VAW in Asia and the Pacific. The third section describes the theoretical basis for why the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to increase women’s risk of violence. The fourth section describes policy responses to prevent, reduce and support victims of VAW prior to the pandemic as recommended by international sources and as practiced in the region. The fifth section compiles existing evidence of increases in VAW thus far in Asia-Pacific. The remaining sections discuss measures taken by governments and civil society organizations to prevent VAW and support survivors both prior to during the pandemic.  

The WHO HIV Drug Resistance Network (HIVResNet) HIV drug resistance laboratory operational framework describes how WHO HIVResNet laboratories function to support national, regional and global HIV drug resistance surveillance by providing accurate genotyping results in a standardized format according to WHO specifications. The aim of the operational framework is to ensure 1) accurate collection, handling, shipment and storage of specimens collected in countries implementing HIV drug resistance surveillance; and 2) the availability of quality-assured HIV genotyping laboratory services producing comparable and reliable results at the national, regional and global levels. This publication updates the WHO HIVResNet HIV drug resistance laboratory operational framework published in 2017 and reflects technical and strategic developments over the past three years.

This document provides guidance to countries on preparing and updating plans to mitigate the impact of coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) on tuberculosis (TB) services. The overall goal is to restore and accelerate TB services to meet national and global targets to end TB. It includes considerations on setting priorities and planning for interventions based on the country’s TB and COVID-19 situation, other contextual factors, and identification and mobilization of required resources. The primary target audiences for the Information Note are National TB Programs and Principal Recipients of Global Fund grants. The document can also be used by other stakeholders interested in developing or improving their TB restorative and catch-up plans for COVID-19 and/or support national programs.

The past year has been one of both consolidation and growth of the IDPC network. Despite a challenging geo-political climate and increased pressure on civil society space, there is no doubt that the drug policy reform movement continues to grow and attract new voices and allies. The IDPC Secretariat is proud and humbled to support and amplify the work of so many diverse and committed advocates from all over the world. This is particularly visible via the Support. Don’t Punish campaign which since 2013 has built, connected and strengthened a grassroots-led movement that aims to change the narrative, reduce stigma, challenge damaging approaches, and demand policy reforms. Other highlights from the past year include facilitating the unprecedented engagement of African civil society representatives at the African Union where a bold new Plan of Action on drugs was adopted in August 2019, capacity building for Asian advocates to further leverage the UN human rights regime for government accountability in drug policy responses, and IDPC’s first ever network discussion on outlining principles for the responsible legal regulation of drugs, with a particular focus on social justice outcomes.

"We live in a very difficult time in human history with many uncertainties and complex problems. The systemic human rights abuses faced by illicit drug users is one problem that can actually be fixed with the rescinding of the global UN conventions that legitimise and perpetuate the “war on people who use drugs.” INPUD is playing a crucial role in making the case for an end to the failed global policy of prohibition and there is much work to be proud of that you can see in this document. INPUD’s presence in global advocacy forums is especially important. INPUD provides a global voice for a community that has struggled in the face of adversity and oppression to gain access to basic respect let alone access to harm reduction services. The time has come for those who know that prohibition is tantamount to genocide to speak up and help INPUD, user organisations and drug users all around the world.

The report provides an overview of the organisation’s activities and achievements over 2019, the organisation’s twelfth year of working to improve and protect the health and rights of gay men, other men who have sex with men and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identify and expression and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC) across Asia and the Pacific.  

National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP) of the Ministry of Health is responsible for coordinating the national response to HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Sri Lanka. NSACP coordinates and collaborates with many national and international stakeholders. There is a network of 34 fulltime STD clinics which functions as the service delivery centers. Of these, 27 STD clinics provided antiretroviral treatment (ART) facilities during 2019. Furthermore, NSACP provides quality STI and HIV laboratory services through a comprehensive laboratory network. National and sub-national level monitoring and evaluation and surveillance are other important activities carried out by NSACP.  

This practical Guide serves as a companion to the “WHO guideline: recommendations on digital interventions for health system strengthening” and provides a systematic process for countries to develop a costed implementation plan for digital health within one or more health programme areas, drawing guidance from the WHO guideline–recommended digital health interventions, providing direction to ensure investments are needs-based and contribute effective and interoperable systems  aligned with national digital architecture, country readiness, health system and policy goals.

The guidance presented in this document is intended for digital health intervention designers, developers, implementers, researchers and funders. Newcomers to digital health can use it as a start-to-finish primer on how to collaboratively and responsibly develop youth-centred digital health interventions. Those already engaged in this work can jump directly to the chapters and sections with the ideas and resources they need.