High-level delegation notes progress, urges need for continued leadership, supportive legal environment and public information

Yangon, 22 May 2012 — A high-level United Nations delegation, including the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, Dr. Nafis Sadik, called for an urgent and rapid increase in resources for AIDS programmes in Myanmar to ensure sustained and focused services for people living with HIV as well as key communities most affected by the virus. ―Investment on AIDS in Myanmar needs to increase dramatically from international sources to assist those who are living with HIV and to prevent more people becoming infected,‖ said Dr.
Sadik, on the final day of a week-long official visit to Myanmar. ―At the same time, increased government budget allocation to AIDS work is also needed.

Furthermore, laws, policies and programmes that block access to services for people living with and most affected by HIV need to be revised and removed. Only this will enable the provision of effective and sustainable prevention and treatment services,‖ she added.

During the seven-day visit, which started on 12 May 2012, Dr. Sadik, along with Mr. Steve Kraus,
Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and Pacific and Mr. Clifton Cortez, the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Practice Leader for HIV, Health and Development, met with the Vice-President H.E. Dr. Sai Mauk Kham; Minister of Health, H.E. Prof. Pe Thet Khin; Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Relief and Resettlement, H.E. U Aung Kyi; Attorney-General, Dr. Tun Shin; Dr. Kyaw Myint, Chair of Pyithu Hluttaw Committee on Health Promotion and U Maung Maung Swe, Chair of Pyithu Hluttaw Committee on Population and Social Development; senior officials, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other networks of people living with HIV and civil society representatives to discuss AIDS related issues in Myanmar.