The Asia-Pacific region should be on the alert for an increase in
HIV/AIDs and should treat any cases immediately, or HIV infection
rate in the region could surpass that of Africa before 2010.
The alert came from the Asia-Pacific Bi-Regional Workshop on the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria (GFATM),
which opened in Beijing Thursday.
Chinese Vice Health Minister Wang Longde said that in recent years
the Asia-Pacific region has become the area with the fastest
growing HIV infection rate. At the end of 2001, of the 40 million
surviving HIV infected people worldwide, 7.1 million were from the
Asia and Pacific region.
According to a professional analysis, 22 million people have died
from HIV/AIDS over the past two decades, with the proportion from
the Asia-Pacific region increasing more rapidly than that of Africa
in recent years.
TB
is also spreading rapidly in this region. With the exception of
Africa, the region has the highest number of people with TB in the
world. Among the 23 countries with high rates of TB, 11 are in the
Asia and Pacific region. Each year, the region has 500 TB cases,
74.5 percent of the number from all 23 countries.
Southeast Asia is one of the two areas in the world most seriously
affected by Malaria -- the other is Africa.
Statistics show that in 2000, six million people died from
HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, accounting for 10 percent of the total
deaths.
Speaking of this the Associate Director for Asia-Pacific and the
Middle East of UNAIDS Werasit Sittitrai stressed that it is very
urgent for the Asia Pacific region to fight against the diseases
now, or the whole region will face an economic slowdown again
following the 1997 crisis.
Asia-Pacific Region Works Together to Fight AIDS, TB, Malaria
With strong support from the World Health Organization (WHO),
UNAIDS and the Transition Support Secretariat (TSS) of the Fund,
the conference attracted more than 140 participants from 21
countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific area.
The GFATM was established with the support of the United Nation
(UN), the first donation coming from the UN Secretary Kofi Annan
who contributed US$10,000 on May 3, 2001.
The conference aims to provide information on the current standing
of the GFATM, to help any countries in Asia Pacific region which
might benefit from the fund to prepare draft proposals, and to
develop ideas which will help countries to co-ordinate their
activities when dealing with AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Wang Longde, vice health minister of China addressed the opening
ceremony saying AIDS, TB and Malaria have not only influenced the
health of the people, but also social and economic progress. He
added that he hoped the global fund would promote the prevention
and control of these diseases.
WHO Representative in China Dr.Janos Annus and the Associate
Director for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East of UNAIDS Werasit
Sittitrai both agreed the conference had made a very good beginning
and would set the standard for future activities.
The GFATM was formally launched in January, and promised donations
have reached US$1.7 billion, with government donations accounting
for 94 percent.
(
February 8, 2002)