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Abstract
Strengthening community participation in China’s AIDS response
among men who have sex with men
E. Settle
Issue: Over the past couple of years, China’s national and local health officials have begun to note that to halt and reverse the spread of HIV among men who have sex with men there is a need to support the involvement of individuals and organizations including MSM in the national AIDS response. In addition, institutional and structural barriers that prevent the substantive involvement of MSM need to be removed. According to current estimates, the prevalence of HIV among MSM in China has risen to an estimated 12.2 percent.
Description: In order to more effectively coordinate efforts between health and community groups, the UN Technical Working Group on MSM and HIV/AIDS - lead by (United Nations Development Programme) UNDP - supported the National Center for STD/AIDS Control and Prevention (NCAIDS) and China’s MSM civil society to draft the national framework on controlling HIV among China’s MSM population. The final National Framework on MSM and HIV/AIDS was released in late 2007.
Lessons learned: During the process of drafting the Framework, the UN Technical Working Group on MSM and HIV/AIDS convened bi-monthly working group meetings, and with the support of UNAIDS, encouraged community members and government health officials to attend and participate in regional MSM conferences and initiatives to further broaden the discussion on key issues between MSM community groups and health officials.
Next steps: UNDP and partners will convene a series of sub national MSM community consultation workshops and issue specific national seminars in 2008. These workshops will aim to strengthen local MSM community ownership and engagement in HIV prevention and awareness outreach activities, increase access to comprehensive VCT services for MSM and provide care and support through the development of community joint actions plans and the identification of specific roles and responsibilities of civil society groups and health departments at the community level.
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
TUAD0301
Suggested Citation
" E. Settle
Strengthening community participation in China’s AIDS response
among men who have sex with men.
Oral Abstract Session:
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
TUAD0301"
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