What's New

In 2013, over 9 million people fell ill and about 1.5 million people died of tuberculosis (TB). Although there have been some major achievements in controlling TB, it remains a crucial health threat, in particular to the most vulnerable populations in the developing world. The problem has been accentuated by the emergence of new drug-resistant strains of TB (MDR-TB and XDR-TB), which are especially difficult to detect and treat. Recognizing the current lack of ethical guidance, WHO established a Task Force on Addressing Ethical Issues in TB Care and Control Programmes in August 2008. Based on an initial draft elaborated by the Task Force and broad consultations with other experts and stakeholders, a guidance document entitled "Guidance on Ethics of TB Prevention, Care and Control" was published in November 2010.

The Nauru Family Health and Support Study aimed at obtaining reliable information on violence against women (VAW), its characteristics, and consequences. Although the study initially sought to collect a nationally representative sample of women aged 15-64, due to a low response rate, its findings are derived from a reduced sample of eligible women in a small group of districts. The findings of this exploratory study, however, provide a preliminary understanding around VAW in the country and serve as a limited evidence base to create awareness campaigns and education programs around gender roles and VAW. This exploratory study also provides important learning for future quantitative studies on VAW in Nauru.

The FSM Family Health and Safety Study (FHSS) aimed to gauge the prevalence and types of violence against women (VAW) in the FSM. The study also sought to document the associations between partner violence and the wellbeing of the woman and her children, as well as to identify risk and protective factors for partner violence. The FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs (DHSA) carried out the study with financial support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and with financial and technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The methodology of the study is based on the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence Against Women, which combines quantitative and qualitative components and adheres to international ethical and safety standards.

Violence against women is a serious and reprehensible human rights violation that directly and indirectly affects the health, livelihood and opportunities of women in Myanmar. Civil society actors, government authorities and international agencies increasingly recognize the extent and scope of this issue across the country. However, there has been little rigorous research conducted on this topic among women in Myanmar's general population. This qualitative study on violence against women helps to fill the gap on what is known about women's experiences of abuse and violence by their husband and other men. This briefing paper provides a summary of the research finding from the full report.

The Belau Family Health and Safety Study (FHSS) aimed at obtaining reliable data on the prevalence and types of violence against women (VAW) in Palau. The study also sought to document the associations between partner violence and health issues and other outcomes, as well as to identify risk and protective factors for partner violence. The Ministry of Health carried out the study with financial support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and financial and technical support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

UNAIDS Regional Management Meeting 25th October 2014

Presentation prepared by  UNAIDS Asia-Pacific and Data Hub for the 11th UNAIDS Asia-Pacific Regional Management Meeting,  Bangkok, 25-28 October 2014

In October 2014, there were 537 new HIV Ab sero-positive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry. This was 9 higher compared to the same period last year.

Regional Posters prepared by UNAIDS Asia-Pacific and Data Hub for the 11th UNAIDS Asia-Pacific Regional Management Meeting in Bangkok, 25-28 October 2014.

In September 2014, there were 565 new HIV Ab seropositive individuals confirmed by the STD/AIDS Cooperative Central Laboratory (SACCL) and reported to the HIV and AIDS Registry (Table 1). This was 32 % higher compared to the same period last year (n=427) [Figure 1].