Expanded HIV testing program for Pacific

[B]NOUMEA, New Caledonia[/B]—New HIV test recommendations specially designed for Pacific Island countries and territories have just been released by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and key regional partners.

Dr. Dennie Iniakwala, SPC’s HIV & STI Section head, said the recommendations were a “breakthrough in so far as they are a move away from the one-size-fits-all international programming.”

“For the first time, regional organizations have agreed on detailed steps to advise on expanding HIV testing that reflect the uniqueness of Pacific conditions,” said Dr Iniakwala. “Thanks to these recommendations, we’ll be able to make faster progress in scaling up HIV testing in the region.”

A technical meeting to draft the recommendations was convened on May 5 and 6, 2008 by SPC in Pago Pago, with the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oceania Society for Sexual Health and HIV Medicine, Australian National Serology Reference Laboratory, and other key regional agencies. The meeting was hosted by the Government of American Samoa.

An “HIV testing task force” was set up during the meeting to ensure Pacific Island countries and territories get the support they need to implement the recommendations. The task force includes technical experts from the regional and international agencies involved in drafting the recommendations.

More HIV testing and counsellng is crucial if the Pacific is to effectively manage what is a rapidly growing international problem. At this point, the Pacific is still in a position to prevent a widespread HIV epidemic developing in the way it has in other countries.

The HIV testing task force will be working with countries and territories on smoothing out the process and expanding HIV testing to facilities such as ante-natal and STI clinics and stand-alone counseling and testing services.

Dr Iniakwala said that “with 21 diverse countries to consider, the task force has a challenging job ahead, but it’s great to be moving on this.”[B][I] (SPC)[/I][/B]

[B]ON THE NET[/B]

To download Recommendations for expanding HIV testing in the Pacific:
http://www.spc.int/hiv/downloads/regional-consultation-on-hiv-testing/ or http://www.spc.int/hiv/news/