UNAIDS, in partnership with Ashodaya Samiti, has set up the 'UNAIDS-ADB - Ashodaya Regional Learning Site' on HIV. The centre will be Asia Pacific region's first ever learning site on HIV and sex work. The site intends to improve and develop community led approaches for the HIV programme population.

The new learning site would provide technical assistance to networks and organizations working with MARPs (Most At Risk Population) and facilitating collaborative work at the regional and country level.

UNAIDS aims to combat the rise in number of deaths due to AIDS in Karnataka, a state where an average HIV prevalence among female sex workers is just over 5 per cent with this learning site.

Michel Sidibe, executive director, UNAIDS, said, "Despite evidence and experience of what works to prevent HIV transmission among MARPs, coverage for HIV prevention and treatment services in Asia is minimal. A major challenge in interventions for sex workers is the quality of the evidence that we use in deciding policy, strategy and resource allocations. The need of the hour is to introduce interventions for sex workers that go beyond project scaling, reaching diverse subgroups of sex workers and expansion to non urban areas."

"The new centre would not just be an effective intervention based on good evidence of what is needed on ground but will also work towards reducing stigma and discrimination against most at risk groups to enable an environment supportive of HIV," he added.

As part of his first official visit to India Sidibé also participated in an event organized by Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) to interact with members from Karnataka network of people living with HIV and civil society organizations working on HIV at the state level. He visited the Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) Centre and a Integrated Counselling and Treatment Centre interacting with the government functionaries and clients accessing ART and PPTCT services.

UNAIDS works closely with the Government of India, non-governmental organizations, community groups and people living with HIV to increase access to HIV prevention and treatment services, with a special focus on those most at risk. It has supported the National AIDS Control Organization in developing the third National AIDS Control Programme plan. It has launched a special initiative in eight states in Northeast India, which has strengthened political leadership, programme implementation and community engagement around HIV issue.