Advances in science have made it possible to end the AIDS epidemic by increasing access to HIV testing and antiretroviral medications among individuals facing the greatest risk of infection. In many countries across Asia and the Pacific, the greatest proportion of new HIV infections each year occur among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women, yet the number of people in these populations accessing HIV services remains very low. With funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. Agency for International Development Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA) works to control the epidemic by using better methods to reach, test, treat and retain in clinical services for MSM and transgender women.

INNOVATION TO END AIDS

The global vision to end AIDS involves diagnosing 90 percent of all infected individuals, placing 90 percent of those diagnosed on antiretroviral medications, and suppressing the HIV virus to undetectable levels among 90 percent of individuals on treatment by 2020. To achieve this vision, better approaches are needed to reach and retain in clinical services individuals with the greatest infection risks. Through partnerships with beneficiary-led, community-based organizations and public-sector service providers, USAID/RDMA supports convenient HIV testing with fast, within-the-hour results and the referral of people living with HIV to treatment services. The program is using social media and mobile technology to increase demand for lifesaving HIV services and have also helped providers become more efficient in reaching and retaining clients.

EVIDENCE TO GUIDE ACTION

To scale up innovative service solutions, the regional HIV program supports research activities through local and regional partners. Current evaluations focus on the effectiveness and efficiency of strategies to provide immediate HIV treatment to all HIV infected individuals; to expand access to HIV testing in the community; to mitigate stigma and discrimination; and to provide more relevant, accessible clinical services to transgender women.

LOCAL CAPACITY FOR SUSTAINED ACHIEVEMENT

The regional HIV program helps local partners generate more effective policies and programs to end AIDS through technical assistance to organizations to advocate for improved national responses to HIV and AIDS.  

PARTNERS

USAID/RDMA plans and coordinates closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense and the Peace Corps to help countries identify, evaluate, adopt, implement and lead more effective and cost-efficient solutions to address HIV and AIDS. The program implements core activities in Thailand and Laos through specific partnerships with:

• The USAID Linkages Across the Continuum of HIV Services for Key Populations Affected by HIV project, implemented by FHI360;
• Inform Asia: USAID’s Health and Research Program, implemented by RTI International and the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center; and
• The Control and Prevention of Three Diseases (CAP-3D) Project, implemented by Population Services International.