AusAID Launches HAARP in Chang Mai 

On the 23rd April, Australia's International Aid Agency, AusAID, successfully launched the HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program (HAARP), and the program website in Chiang Mai, where government representatives from around the world gathered for a UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board meeting.

HAARP is an eight year, AUD$59m program that works with governments, regional agencies, civil society organisations, and drug user networks, to reduce the spread of HIV associated with drug use among men and women in South East Asia and China.

A range of government, regional agency, and civil society representatives attended the launch. Speakers included:

• Mean Chhivun, Director, National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology & STI's (NCHADS), Cambodia
• Thi Hai Oanh Khuat, Vietnam Civil Society Partnership Platform on AIDS
• Paul Bekkers, HIV/AIDS Ambassador for the Netherlands
• Peter Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS
• Phillippe Allen, Minister Counsellor, AusAID Bangkok

One of the key issues raised by speakers in the launch was around the need for coordination, which was followed by the announcement of the Netherlands Government expressing a willingness to co-finance the Country Flexible Program in Vietnam.

Speakers supported the objectives and principles of HAARP, highlighting the need for the involvement of drug-users, the need to address stigma and discrimination, and the importance of a regional approach in terms of scaling up harm reduction responses.

Following are highlights from each of the speakers:

Phillippe Allen, Minister Counsellor, AusAID Bangkok

"One of the things that Australia remains concerned about is the potential impact of the move of traditional donors from Asia. We are making the case to these donors that they don't need to have an organisational presence in countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos etc to make an impact. They can pool money into this one program and scale up harm reduction in this part of the world through one funding mechanism."

On that note "I would like to announce that the Dutch Government have agreed in principle to co-finance aspects of HAARP in Vietnam with a significant contribution of 4million Euros over four years."

Paul Bekkers, HIV/AIDS Ambassador for the Netherlands
Paul Bekkers. Source: HAARP

"In Vietnam, where I have just been, we are seeing real progress - the Vietnam government is willing and able to challenge traditional policy based on  evidence that harm reduction is the only way you can effectively help IDUs and limit the spread of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam.

Harm reduction is crucial. Australia is leading in that, and a couple of other countries are amongst them. It is very important to have a regional approach, and we are really happy to be a part of that."

Peter Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS

"In the fight against HIV/AIDS "There is often the failure to respect the rights of everyone, including drug users. This is a pretty universal issue - the failure to include people who are affected, in policy development. Frankly, no company would try to sell any goods without involving at least in the research stage its customers. In public health I think we have the speciality of not doing that, and that is not unique to any country or region. We can benefit from national action, but also regional cooperation and we need to recognise that there are no easy solutions.

Peter Piot. Source: HAARPHAARP is such an important initiative because when we look at the issue of prevention among IDUs it's not only a matter of inadequate services or poor coverage  - that's one aspect as the result of many other issues, and not only in the region but other parts of the world. I often also see a total discordance, not to say some kind of schizophrenia between drug control policies and HIV policies, which are often mutually exclusive. We have not paid enough attention to bring these policies together - so coordination is not just a bureaucratic issue, its something that can save lives - and we still have a lot of progress to make there."

Thi Hai Oanh Khuat, Vietnam Civil Society Partnership Platform on AIDS

"I've been advocating about harm reduction since the first moment I learned about it, so I am very happy HAARP will be implemented in Vietnam, and that their will be a civil society component.

Thi Hai Oanh Khuat. Source: HAARPThe opinion in Vietnam up to this point is that drug use is a social evil, so unless we tackle the problem of stigma and discrimination, we will not win the fight. If we don't address this, then we don't get drug users to use the services, and to address this, I think civil society is the best partner. We aim to support drug users to form their own group and to have their voice heard - we will be focusing largely on advocacy and monitoring, so we will be very happy to partner with HAARP."

 Mean Chhivun, Director, National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology & STI's (NCHADS), Cambodia

"There are many donors working on HIV/AID in Cambodia, however with good partnership amongst donors we hope that the National Strategic Plan for the next 4-5 years will be achieved. The support of HAARP is very crucial in supporting the National Strategic Framework to fulfil the gaps which are identified."

See press release