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A Program Of:
TakingITGlobal
Global Youth Action Network


Strategic Partners:
United Nations Population Fund
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
aids 2031
Does HIV look like me?
Oxfam International Youth Parliament
Universities Coalition for Global Health
South Asia

Contact Information

Regional Focal Point
  • Ajay Uprety, Nepal - (Profile)

  • National Focal Points
  • Ajay Uprety, Nepal - (Profile)
  • Peter Borges, India - (Profile)
  • Muhammed Imran Shahid, Pakistan - (Profile)
  • Badiuzzaman Tota, Bangladesh - (Profile)


    Manipur World AIDS Day Commemoration


    To join the South Asia regional email list, please send a blank email to GYCA-SouthAsia-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org

    Background

    In Asia, national HIV infection levels are highest in South-East Asia, where combinations of unprotected paid sex and unprotected sex between men, along with unsafe injecting drug use, are the largest risk factors for HIV infection. HIV outbreaks among men who have sex with men are now becoming evident in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. In very few of these countries, national AIDS programmes adequately address the role of sex between men in the epidemics. HIV outbreaks are being found in Pakistan, particularly among injecting drug users. High levels of use of non-sterile injecting equipment and other risk behaviors offer the HIV epidemic considerable scope for growth here.



    Regional News


    Click here for a recent article on treatment access by Ishwarchandra Haobam, RFP for South Asia.

    SASO observes World Hepatitis Awareness Day

    World Hepatitis Awareness Day, October 1st, was observed at Social Awareness Service Organization (SASO) for the first time in Manipur, India. SASO’s theme for this event was, "What do we do?" to address the emerging and threatening issue of HIV/HCV co-infection in Manipur. In the keynote address, SASO’s General Secretary stated that reason for observing this event was to increase awareness and produce an immediate response supporting the right to access affordable HCV treatment in particular, as well as hepatitis in general. Ishwarchandra Haobom, GYCA’s Regional Focal Point in South Asia and SASO’s IDU project coordinator, helped organize the event.

    The address was followed by a panel discussion with doctors directly involved with the issue of HCV and HIV co-infection. Dr. Diamond spoke to the special needs of co-infected individuals, stressing the reality that there are documented reports of people dying of HCV rather than HIV, and pointing out the benefits of early HCV detection in order to prevent further health complications. Another participant, Dr. Priyokumar stressed that "as far as HCV issue is concerned, it is being a neglected area in our state". He continued to note that 20% of PLHA with IDU background who are treated in JN Hospital are HCV co-infected, and that another survey among IDUs done by SHALOM and ICMR show that 92% in Imphal and 98% in Churchandpur were found to be co-infected with HIV and HCV. In conclusion, they called for the support of NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS in creating a forum to raise awareness in parliament in order to to allow access to free HCV treatment. They further emphasized the need for domestic research, claiming that the doctors are following European guidelines while treating HCV due to a lack of equivalent research focusing on the local context.

    Youth Council Assembly, Jacobabad, Pakistan



    The first ever youth council assembly in the history of Jacobabad was called on by Youth Action for Pakistan on 20-21 May 2007. The youth council was comprised of 40 young males and 20 young females from all the union council of district Jacobabad. Thematic groups included Health and Education, Youth Empowerment, and Governance and Development. The Assembly was organized by GYCA Member Murtaza Noonari.

    International Training: Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People

    The Swedish Int. Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) will organize the advance training Programme on Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People and will take place in New Delhi from 15-30 September, 2007.

    The objective of the training is to promote a better regional understanding of young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights through experience sharing in the context of South and South East Asian countries; to enhance the capacities of individuals/ institutions to work and network effectively, to address, act and advocate for young people’s SRH with a rights perspective.

    India will host the Fourth Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights

    The India Consortium is pleased to announce that the Fourth Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights will be held on October 29-31, 2007 in Hyderabad, India. The theme of the conference is "Exploring New Frontiers in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights". The conference will provide a platform for people with diverse perspectives, expertise and experience to exchange ideas, discuss and debate issues of concern, and learn from each other about sexual and reproductive health and rights, with specific reference to the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, 1994).

    India Consortium on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
  • Centre for Health Education , Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA), Ahmedabad
  • Centre for Operations Researchnd Training (CORT), Baroda
  • Child In Need Institute (CINI), Kolkata
  • Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), Mumbai
  • Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility (ISSRF), Mumbai
  • MAMTA - Health Institute for Mother and Child, New Delhi
  • Population Foundation of India (PFI), New Delhi
  • The Humsafar Trust, Mumbai