What's New

Since the inception of MICS in the mid-1990s, no one document consolidated how MICS has developed and evolved over time.  In this publication, we examine the rationale and activities of the first surveys and how these laid the foundation for the MICS programme. Through a thematic lens, this publication charts the key elements of the MICS programme and recounts the achievements and value of MICS. In the changing data-landscape of a post MDG era, we also examine the strategic role of MICS in future monitoring activities.

The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance to public health professionals tasked with managing a response to viral hepatitis. As every country’s needs are different with respect to its epidemiology and the current level of response, people would use this manual in different ways. This manual is intended:

• to help think more comprehensively about the hepatitis response in a country;
• to provide a step-by-step approach to setting up a national hepatitis plan and/or programme;
• to propose a governance structure that can be adapted according to needs; and
• to propose the outline of a national hepatitis plan.

In September 2015, there were 692 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals. This was 22% higher compared to the same period last year (565). Most (94%) of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting. Ninety-six percent were male. The median age was 27 years old (age range: 7 years-62 years). More than half (52%) belonged to the 25-34 year age group while 31% were youth aged 15-24 years old.

This is the fifth round of the IBBS survey conducted among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) population in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Previously, the survey was carried out in 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2012 in the same location among the same population. In line with the objectives of the previous rounds of the IBBS, this survey was also undertaken primarily with objectives to:

• Determine the prevalence and trend of HIV Syphilis, Chlamydia Trachomati (CT) and Neisseria Gonorrhea (NG) and associated risk behaviors among MSM/ Transgender (TG),
• Collect information related to socio-demographic characteristics
• Explore the association between the risk behaviors and HIV and other specific STIs among the MSM and TG population.

Fieldwork for data collection was conducted in August, 2015.

The objectives of the presentation are as followed To estimate HIV prevalence in two sentinel groups: women attending ANC clinics and MSM To compare the HIV prevalence in the routine PMTCT program and the ANC sentinel surveillance To provide data needed for estimating HIV infection in the general population, trend analysis, monitoring, and program planning To conduct a population size estimation for men who have sex with men 

This document is written for national HIV surveillance programme staff responsible for monitoring trends in country HIV epidemics. Its purpose is to describe how routine prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme data can be used to conduct HIV surveillance among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANC). These guidelines assume that surveillance programmes have already assessed the readiness of routine programme data to be used for surveillance. WHO’s 2013 Guidelines for assessing the utility of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme data for HIV sentinel surveillance among pregnant women describes these assessment methods.

In August 2015, there were 598 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals. This was 17% higher compared to the same period last year (509). Most (93%) of the cases were still asymptomatic at the time of reporting. Ninety-six percent were male. The median age was 28 years old (age range: 2 years-66 years). More than half (53%) belong to the 25-34 year age group while 26% were youth aged 15-24 years old.

Poverty reduction has always been an important objective of Bhutan’s development policies and plans. Bhutan adopted poverty reduction as the overall objective of the 10th Five-Year Plan (2008-2013). The commitment to reduce poverty has continued into the 11th Five Plan (11th FYP, 2013-2018). Proportion of population living under poverty line was reduced to 12% in 2012 from 23.2 percent in 2007. About 95% percent of the poor population lived in rural areas. Among the extremely poor, 97% of them live in rural areas. Therefore, poverty in Bhutan continues to be a rural phenomenon.

The primary objectives of the presentation is to estimate the size of MSM population in Cambodia. The second objectives is identify risky sexual behaviors among MSM, to assess accessibility to HIV prevention, care, and support services among MSM and to assess HIV and AIDS intervention coverage.

Within the pages of this World AIDS Day report, Focus on location and population, are more than 50 examples of how countries are getting on the Fast-Track. It shows how governments are working with community groups and international partners to scale up health and social services that put people at the centre and located where they can do more people more good. These examples show us that ending the AIDS epidemic is achievable if we focus on people accessing the right services delivered in the right place. This report also contains nearly 100 maps that display an unprecedented amount of subnational data generated and reported by national HIV programmes.