February 26, 2007
UNDP HQs.
New York, NY.
News Release.
Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) participated in the Regional Directors Group Meeting on HIV/AIDS (LAC RDG on HIV/AIDS) at UNDP HQs, on February 26. The meeting was chaired by Rebeca Grynspan, Regional Director, RBLAC/UNDP, that in her opening remarks highlighted that much was accomplished by the RDG during 2006 – in particular in support of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS +5). Most of the other action points agreed in 2006 were also reached; but a few are still to be achieved. The RDG should continue their work in support of the response to HIV/AIDS in the LAC region.
Dr. Patricio Rojas, Unit Chief of HIV/AIDS in the Family and Community Health Area at PAHO, also attended the meeting with the Director.
The LAC RDG on HIV/AIDS have long recognized that HIV/AIDS is a global crisis, which calls for an immediate response, it requires for the United Nations family and partners to come together in concerted and coordinated action. To achieve the goals and promote the best response to the HIV in the Region, the LAC RDG are working on the strategies needed to halt the epidemic, decrease risk, vulnerability and impact.
The Regional Directors agreed on a Plan of Action for 2007. It builds on their Strategic Regional Framework on HIV (2004-2007) and on the Declaration "Strengthening the UN Response to HIV/AIDS in Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean" (Washington DC, 11 June 2003) that they issued when their partnership was launched. PAHO will work closely with other agencies in the implementation of the work plan 2007, which include among others an update of the RDG Regional Framework; the preparations for FORO 2007 in Buenos Aires, CONCASIDA 2007 in Panama and the International AIDS Conference in 2008 in Mexico; finalize the UN System information Sharing Platform; and capacity building workshops for Resident Coordinators, Theme Group Chairs, UCCs. The Regional Directors plan to hold a press conference at the FORO 2007 in Buenos Aires to highlight the challenges and opportunities of the response to HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean. They also plan to promote a high profile for the Americas Region during the IAC.
PAHO is well positioned to contribute to the preparations of the FORO, CONCASIDA and IAC through the country offices and regional program, where will be a good participation of PAHO/WHO.
The proposal for the UN System Information Sharing Platform was developed by PAHO's Information and Knowledge Area, the proposal is on consultation with the focal points and RDT.
Capacity building Workshops for RCs, TG Chairs, and UCCs should be done through the involvement of the HIV/AIDS focal points at country level, subregional advisor and regional programs. It will be an excellent opportunity to promote, at country level, the critical lines of actions of the Regional Plan for the Health Sector 2006-2015.
UNAIDS at country level. Supporting countries as they move towards universal access.
UNAIDS focused its country support work on two main areas:
. Improving the AIDS response, assisting countries in the "three ones", the three key principles: one national AIDS action framework, one coordinating authority, and, one monitoring and evaluation system.
. Securing political commitment to a dramatic expansion of services for prevention, treatment, care and support through the universal access process.
Upcoming meetings:
Forum Buenos Aires 2007. Latin America and the Caribbean: united about diversity towards universal access, main theme of the IV Regional Conference on AIDS in Buenos Aires, in April 2007;
CONCASIDA (Fall 2007);
International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Mexico, 2008;
Caribbean Technical Meeting on Research and Best Practices in the response to HIV/AIDS.
More information:
RDG Meeting on HIV/AIDS Agenda
LAC Strategic Regional Framework on HIV Regional Directors Group 2004-2007.
Challenges and opportunities to achieve Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support in Latin American and the Caribbean Region.
Number of People with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean Rises to 2 Million, Number of People under Treatment and Getting Tested also Increases, Says Report
HIV/AIDS Unit PAHO Web Site
