UNDP: Strengthen local responses to halt HIV, AIDS in RP

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged HIV and AIDS advocates or champions to strengthen their local responses to halt the continues spread of the virus in the Philippines.

UNDP country director Renaud Meyer, in a message read by Philip Castro, UNDP’s program manager to the participants of training on Promoting Leadership and Mitigating the Negative Impact of HIV and AIDS on Human Development held here, he emphasized the importance of having a multi-sectoral effort in response to the HIV and AIDS.

“We have over the past few months witnessed several local initiatives, led by provincial AIDS councils like in Albay, by cities such as in Tabaco, Daraga and municipality of Kalibo and I am so impressed by the level of commitment and enthusiasm that there is among local officials, non-government organization representatives, young advocates. What strike us is how much they are able to accomplish with so little and how successful and motivated they are and remain despite the challenges and sometimes the stigma and discrimination they still face at local level,” the UNDP chief said.

According to him this should provide us not only a great lesson but also extra energy to achieve our objectives and extend to them our support.

“We have all witnessed the continuing challenges of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines. Let us all take stock of the challenges facing this country as provided for in the result of the 2009 Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serologic Survey (IHBSS) and the regular monthly HIV and AIDS Registry issued by DOH where it clearly emphasizes an accelerating incidence of HIV and AIDS in the country, and the outcome of the HIV and AIDS Summit held in April 2010,” Meyer said.

He stated that from the one case per day in 2007, Philippines is now facing a situation of 5 new cases per day or 1 in every 5 hours per day. “This is indeed alarming and each one of us present here has our own contributions to halt and reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS in this country. ”

“In this kind of situation, I reiterate the your important role as Champions in facilitating and advocating for scaling up effective and sustained local AIDS responses. I firmly believe that your capacities as well as those of the Regional AIDS Assistance Team (RAATs) need to be further strengthened and aligned with the current challenges of our time,” Meyer said.

He believe and is hopeful that the knowledge and skills that have been imparted to HIV/AIDS champions (advocates) over time would be translated into concrete actions — “actions that are rights-based and multi-sectoral which recognize every sectors’ meaningful involvement and participation in all stages of the response, including people living with HIV and AIDS, and an engagement process that will reduce stigma at the institutional and community levels.”

“It is therefore interesting to see progress of our work as we move towards mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in local governance processes, ensuring that local planning and budgeting processes have taken into account HIV and AIDS issues, and scaling up decentralization efforts to address local HIV and AIDS challenges with active participation of different sectors,” he added.

In doing so, he said, your commitment, compassion, and support to those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS must be pursued and concrete actions must be seen happening at the local level through effective policies, programs, and partnerships.

Meyer also pointed out that the RAATS and local champions are instrumental in this and our joint outreach efforts are so important. “We need to mobilize all sectors of society and join forces, we need to network with existing groups and initiatives, so that we can ensure that the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Philippines is indeed halted and reversed.”(PNA)