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UN agencies expand HIV prevention services to drug users (2) |
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21:44, August 21, 2007 |
Injecting drug use is a major factor fueling the HIV epidemic in the South, South-East and East Asia Region, accounting for 50 percent to 70 percent of HIV infections in some countries.
Of the 13 million estimated IDUs in the world, 3.3 million live in South and South-East Asia, with wide variations in HIV prevalence within countries and the region.
In South Asia in particular, the increasing use of opioids, specifically heroin, and the diffusion of injecting drug use pose a major risk for the spread of HIV.
"It is crucial to provide early interventions to target a largely hidden population so we can reach the diverse groups of people who use drugs in order to stem the spread of HIV and prevent deaths among them and their sexual partners," said Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia.
Drug users, especially IDUs, face serious health problems, including infections and malnutrition.
"The time has come to reach out to injecting drug users to step out of the darkness of stigma together and demand an innovative approach to HIV prevention that upholds their human rights and dignity," said UNAIDS Asia Pacific Regional Director Prasada Rao.
Source: Xinhua
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