WHO, SEARO initiative on HIV and the Young People

[Guest guest]

(Please reply to Dr Nayar directly<Nayarpd@...>

Dear Friends at AIDS-India, Greetings to you from SEARO!

WHO,Regional Office for South East Asia (SEARO) has recognized the need to

address issues pertaining to young people (age group 10-24) in the context of

HIV/AIDS more aggressively. It is moving towards launching a better integrated,

well coordinated and focussed action plan for HIV/YP. Collection of strategic

information on many levels, broad and in-depth analysis to identify critical and

important issues and development of a strategic framework are required to be

carried out to tackle the epidemic and to make effective attempts to meet the

global goals. Providing higher visibility to HIV by advocating increased focus

on HIV/YP in Strategy on Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) in selected

countries, strengthen the countries' response to the HIV epidemic especially in

the sphere of HIV/YP too are envisaged.

It has been decided to carry out a regional situation analysis on issues

pertaining to HI/YP. Since the situation Analysis requires up to date

information, we would be delighted to receive your cooperation and active

assistance. Please assist us by letting us have the following information.

We will be obliged if you can also send us some original research/data/material.

Policy/Strategy

* Is prevention and control of HIV/AIDS among young people a priority in the

country's HIV/AIDS policy/strategy? What focus has been provided to this group

of people? (Please attach/post relevant documents)

* What focus is being provided to issues related with HIV/AIDS in the various

policies/strategies related to adolescents and young people? (Please attach/post

relevant documents)

Sentinel surveillance surveys:

* Have any surveys been conducted on young people? If yes since when? Or - Do

the surveys conducted provide age disaggregated data that is usable for this

purpose? (Please attach/post relevant documents)

Behaviour surveillance surveys:

* Have any surveys been conducted on young people? If yes since when? Or - Do

the surveys conducted provide age disaggregated data that is usable for this

purpose? (Please attach/post relevant documents)

* Any other sources (direct or indirect) of information? (Please attach/post

relevant documents)

Health Services: HIV/AIDS Prevention and care and young people/adolescents

* What is the focus provided to YP in the services offered - VCT, Condom

promotion, STI, prevention and care for drug users, those sexually abused and

those in sex work? (Please attach/post relevant documents)

* Information regarding " Who is doing what? " - What kind of services are being

provide by various agencies/institutions/INGOS(Please attach/post relevant

documents)

IEC:

* What special focus has been provided to the YP in the IEC activities and

initiatives by the county program/states(provinces)/NGOs/ others? What material

is available in local languages? What material is readily available? (Please

attach/post relevant documents)

* What has been the role of mass media in highlighting issues of HIV/YP? What

have been the issues identified and are any of those being addressed?

Others:

* Any other areas that you feel would add to the quality and depth of the

enterprise? (Please attach/post relevant documents)

As the initiative is time bound may I request you to please spare some time from

your busy schedule to e-mail / post the information/documents/material at the

earliest. We understand that not all material would be readily available and you

may require some time to locate it. How ever we would appreciate if you could

send what ever material is readily available at the earliest.

I thank you in advance for your involvement and efforts.

Warm Regards

Dr. Patanjali Dev Nayar

STP-HIV/YP

World Health Organization

Regional Office for South East Asia (SEARO)

Indraprastha Estate

New Delhi -110002

E-mail: <Nayarpd@...>