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Enhancing the Response to HIV/AIDS in the Maldives
HIV/AIDS Situation
At the end of 31 December 2005, a total of 13 HIV cases among Maldivians, and 168 HIV cases among expatriate workers have been reported. Of the 13 HIV-positive cases reported among Maldivians, 10 were sailors, two were the spouses of these sailors, and one was a resort worker who travelled abroad with a foreign tourist. Eleven HIV cases were male. All infections were acquired through heterosexual route of transmission. Compared to many countries in the region it has a very low prevalence of HIV. The challenge for the Maldives is to ensure it remains a low HIV prevalence country in spite of increasing high risk behaviours among some population groups.
Global Fund Partnership
The Phase II (September 2009 – August 2012) of the Global Fund grant to Maldives totals US $ 2.289million. The grant emphasizes prevention strategies to ensure that Maldives maintains a low prevalence of HIV by primarily targeting those population groups most at risk and creating a supportive environment, to ensure not only support for HIV/AIDS initiatives but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination often facing people who are at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS in the Maldives.
OVERVIEW
In partnership with the Global Fund, UNDP is committed to support the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS (2007-2011) to create a supportive environment to reduce HIV transmission and HIV-related morbidity, mortality and disability in the Maldives.
Its main components include:
1. Prevent HIV transmission among young people;
2. Prevent HIV transmission among populations at risk such as migrant, seafarers and resort workers;
3. Increase awareness and knowledge about STIs (sexually
transmitted infection) / HIV;
transmitted infection) / HIV;
4. Easy accessibility to quality HIV testing and counselling;
5. Strengthen the prevention and control of STIs;
6. Strengthen health service capacity to provide care and
treatment for HIV/AIDS patients;
treatment for HIV/AIDS patients;
7. Strengthen health systems capacity for prevention of HIV & other such infections through blood and blood products;
8. Strengthen strategic information system for HIV; Strengthen multi sectorial response to HIV/AIDS.
UNDP Support
UNDP acts as the Principle Recipient (PR) for this project. As PR, UNDP is responsible for the financial and programmatic management of the GFATM grant as well as for the procurement of health and non-health products. In all areas of implementation, it provides capacity development services to sub-recipients (SR) and implementing partners.
Sub-recipients
National AIDS Programme, Centre for Community Health and Disease Control (CCHDC), Department of Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Services (DDPRS) and Family with Journey (NGO) and Society for Health & Education - SHE (NGO) implements the programme activities under the guidance of the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM)
Contribution to Capacity Development
In order to strengthen the national response to HIV in the Maldives, UNDP has provided consistent support to the government and the civil society organizations to be involved in planning and implementing key activities that impacts HIV response. Programme support staffs from the government and the civil society were trained in the following areas of:
• Programme Management
• Behaviour Change Communication.
• procurement supply management
• financial management
• monitoring and evaluation
Key stakeholders in the mapping of high risk groups UNDP has linked Technical Assistance from the World Bank to conduct the first of its kind in-depth mapping exercise of the Most-at-Risk Populations in the Maldives.
UNDP facilitated the participation of key Policy makers, stakeholders and representatives from the targeted population in the International Conference on AIDS in Asia-Pacific (ICAAP), exposure visits and supported the enhancement of knowledge in programming and implementation of HIV related services for youth through stakeholder consultations. Training and sensitization sessions were conducted for the law enforcement officers on Most-at-Risk Populations’ vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and to enhance their knowledge on HIV/AIDS.
Health care personnel were trained Volunteer Counseling and testing, safe blood transfusions; consolidated blood transfusion services and on HIV care needs and ARV and peer group education trainings were conducted on HIV AIDS risks for drug users and Injecting drug users.
UNDP mobilized Technical Assistance for the sub-recipients in the areas of Financial Management, Monitoring and Evaluation and Blood Safety.
Key Achievements
• UNDP facilitated a joint mid-term review of the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS (NSP) 2007-2011 with technical assistance from the World Bank, UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNODC and the National AIDS Programme of the Ministry of Health.
• A research-based advocacy meeting was held for the parliament members on drug abuse and HIV scenario in the Maldives highlighting the current issues that needs need to be considered when passing the recently drafted Drug Bill.
• As a result of the joint action plan formulated after the ICAAP meeting, the issue of HIV was addressed in the sermons (nation- wide) of two Friday prayers and sessions on HIV and the preventative behaviours within the Islamic context was delivered in seven mosques. A sensitization workshop on HIV was also held for the Islamic scholars in partnership with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
• HIV prevention intervention DUs and IDUs held for prisons inmates covering 100% female and 84% of male inmates population in Maafushi Prison (as of March 2009) .
• UN Joint team on HIV/AIDS acquired funding from theUNAIDS Programme Accelerated Funds (PAF) to conduct a Biological and Behavioural Survey in the Prisons of the Maldives.
• National Monitoring & Evaluation Plan on HIV/AIDS developed.
• Mass Media campaign on HIV Prevention “HIV ah huras alhamaa” was launched targeting high risk groups.
• Interventions for migrants on HIV prevention conducted in five languages (Bengali, Tamil, Nepalese, Singhalese and English). Multilingual outreach programmes initiated and on-going.
• Public private partnerships were established to conduct outreach sensitization of HIV/AIDS workplace education to pave way for formulating a constructive workplace HIV policy.
Looking to the Future
• Strengthening of the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) systems
• Implement targeted interventions for the MARPs and vulnerable populations
• Strengthening the prevention and control of STIs and expand access and coverage of quality HIV testing and counseling
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