Summary Report
on Second Central Asian Forum of Partners, working on HIV prevention
October 18-19, 2007, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan
The Second Central Asian Forum of Partners, working in the area of HIV epidemic prevention was held in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, on October 18-19, 2007.
The Forum is being held in the framework of realization of events, planned by the Central Asia AIDS Control Project (CAAP) in collaboration with UNAIDS. Representatives of governmental and nongovernmental organizations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan together with international organizations, working in the region in the area of HIV epidemic counteraction participated in the Forum.
125 participants took part in the Forum, including:
-14 representatives of government organizations (Ministry of Health, AIDS Centers, National Coordination Committees, etc.);
-11 representatives of nongovernmental organizations;
-13 representatives of Mass Media;
-87 representatives of 22 international organizations and projects.
In the first Forum day, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Feruz Nazirov welcomed the participants. He stressed the importance of this Forum conducting and its great role in cooperation and taking joint efforts of governmental structures, NGOs and International organizations in HIV spreading prevention both on regional and countries levels.
EurAsEC Deputy Head of the Department of social-humanitarian sphere development, Mr. Bahodir Khakimov; World Bank Operations Officer, Ms. Dorothee Eckertz; UNAIDS Director of Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Mr. Bertil Lindblad in their welcome notes were speaking about the importance of forthcoming event, its outstanding role in the process of exchange of information and taking joint decisions in HIV epidemic prevention in Central Asian countries.
Forum was conducted in the frame of two plenary sessions:
- Regional initiatives. Results achieved in the region after the First Central Asian Forum of Partners held in Samarkand on December 2006.
- Donor's supporting role in national HIV epidemic counteraction programs realization in CA countries. Information of international partners about results of 2007 and planned activities for 2008.
During the first plenary session the followings issues were considered:
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UNAIDS policy actual issues
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M&E system strengthening of National programs on HIV and AIDS in Central Asia
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Research conducted in the field of donors blood safety in the countries of Central Asia
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Taxonomy of HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Services in Central Asia
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Informational on-line portal on HIV and AIDS as a tool to improve the exchange of information between partner organizations
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Results of Intergovernmental Conference “HIV/AIDS and Injecting drug use in Central Asia and Afghanistan. From evidence to action” (October 16-17, 2007 Tashkent, Uzbekistan)
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Unified Grant Application progress report
During the second plenary session the representatives of international organizations discussed the results, achieved in 2007 and plans for 2008 with the purpose to strengthen corporation in Central Asia. Together with the international partners representatives of governmental structures of all participating countries spoke on their countries’ expectations from cooperation with international and donor-organizations for support of existing HIV Counteraction Programs.
Short review of received comments, suggestions and wishes
Irina Savtchenko, UNAIDS Coordinator for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan.
The Reporter supported the annual conducting of Partners Forum; introduced participants with UNAIDS policy, attracted attention to the necessity of providing access to prevention, treatment, care and support to PLWHA.
WHO and UNAIDS guidance on provider initiated HIV testing and counseling in health facilities published on May 30, 2007 was presented to participants.
Irina Savtchenko noted that recommendations in the Manual are to be adapted for concrete local epidemiological and social conditions and, it is necessary to form the appropriate policy, social and legal tools for them to be introduced.
Valery E. Chernyavskiy. Fund Portfolio Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM):
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suggested to consider possibilities of the next Partners Forum organization in a more thematic way for the purpose of more thorough study of actual issues;
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advanced the proposal to allot the most part of the assigned financial resources among the vulnerable groups of population;
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suggested to continue discussion on RAF establishment and mechanisms of its establishment. In general he supported the idea of RAF establishment.
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supported the initiatives of Grant Process harmonization in the region;
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called upon country representatives to be more active submitting applications for the next Global Fund Grant round.
Roman Dudnik, AFEW Deputy Regional Director for CAR
He drew Forum participants' attention to the necessity of concentrated efforts to support PLWHA, improving their consumption and access to health services and psycho-social help.
Khorlan Izmailova, Project Management Specialist, USAID/Central Asian Republics
She underlined in her report the following:
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strengthening of transparency in organizing and holding measures;
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necessity of more active international standard introduction;
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strengthening of civil sector's capacity.
David Hausner, Capacity Regional Director
He reported Capacity project achievements and shared the plans for the next year. He l hopes for further partner organizations collaboration strengthening in the region.
Galina Karmanova, Chief of Party, Drug Demand Reduction Program in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the Ferghana Valley Region of Kyrgyzstan (DDRP), USAID/AOSI
Taking into account completion of activity in the framework of the present program, Forum participants were informed about the final regional conference that is to be held in March 2008, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. DDRP achieved results were offered to use by all existing partners (manuals, instructions, reports and training modules).
Damira Sartbaeva, Regional Program Director, UNIFEM
She underlined the necessity of institutionalization of training programs, developed by the partners. She told as an example about cooperation between UNIFEM CIS Regional office and RPMU/CAAP on introduction of educational module “Gender and HIV/AIDS” into educational programs of four CAAP Regional Training Courses.
Mr. Naderi Mahmoud, Head of International Organization of Migration in Tajikistan
Giving report on the results of organization's activity he emphasized the necessity of regional partners' cooperation in the area of HIV prevention among migrates and noted efficiency of collaboration on issues of regional training center for migrants.
Zakir Kadirov, Component Coordinator, Central Asia AIDS Control Project
The course of CAAP Regional AIDS Fund component, arising problems and shortcomings in holding of grant cycles and realization of sub-project proposals was reflected in his report.
Mavzhuda Babamuradova, Uzbekistan WHO Country Office Program Officer
She spoke about existing problems and possibilities of expansion of HIV- consultation and examination, including consultation and examination under medical workers' initiatives in Central Asian countries.
Jadranka Mimica, UNICEF Program Officer on HIV/AIDS for CAR
By presenting analysis of children in-hospital HIV contracting in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, she exposed serious reasons, demanding immediate response of all partner organizations, in particular, medical workers' training.
Milutin Delic, Regional Director, CARHAP/ DFID
He shared the information on CARHAP grant policy and training programs, realizing in the framework of the Project.
Nina Kerimi, UNODC Regional Project Coordinator
She gave the detailed information on Project activity in 2007 and main activity directions for 2008. She told about efficient ways of HIV prevention among vulnerable group of population in Central Asia and Azerbaijan; expressed willingness to assist in harmonization of national HIV program indicators.
Yon Fleerackers, Public Health Specialist, Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation program, Asian Development Bank
He shared information about plans and possibilities of his organization and efforts of ADB on HIV prevention in the sector of transport. He expressed hope to corporate with other partners to combine efforts and finance.
Bahodir Khakimov, Deputy Head, Department of social-humanitarian sphere development, EurAsEC
He expressed willingness for all-round corporation in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention by consideration of actual regional issues at the meetings of EurAsEC Health Protection Committee.
Tilek Meimanaliev, Executive Director, Central Asia AIDS Control Project
He supported the proposal of Mr. V. Chernyavskiy to determine thematical directions for the next meetings at Partners Forum. However, he suggested to conduct the Partners Forum of 2008 within its previous format; to allow speaking of mostly nongovernmental organizations-grant recipients from different donors, that can share as advanced experience in sub-project proposals implementation as existing difficulties in their realization.
Taking into account partners' positive opinions about undertaking efforts on grant process harmonization in Central Asia, he suggested continuing this work actively.
Speaking about the issues of new WHO and UNAIDS Guidance on provider initiated HIV testing and counseling in health facilities, Mr. T. Meimanaliev noted that Central Asia AIDS Control Project is ready to support the initiative to carry out the research to find out readiness of countries to introduce this Manual.
For the purpose of providing regional coordination, duplicate exclusion, efficiency increasing of undertaking measures in the region, he suggested to use well-known format of cooperation by concluding memorandums of mutual understanding/cooperation with attached plans of joint actions.
Roza Kozhapova, Head of HIV Epidemiological Surveillance Department, Minister of Health, Republic of Kazakhstan
Sabirzhan Abdikarimov, Deputy Minister of Health, Kyrgyz Republic
Azamdjon Mirzoyev, Deputy Minister of Health, Republic of Tajikistan
Bakhtiyar Niyazmatov, Deputy Minister of Health, Republic of Uzbekistan
The comprehensive analysis of National HIV Prevention Program realization in the countries was covered In the reports of representatives of governmental structures as well as concrete aspects where there is need in donors’ help; ways of efficient use of HIV epidemics counteraction resources in CA region, the necessity of providing regional approaches in the realization of prevention programs.
However, Mr. Niyazmetov B. I. in his report paid attention to the issue of country readiness to solve the problem of National AIDS Fund (NAF) establishment and presented the concrete plan of establishment and functioning of NAF in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Mr. Amanullo Gaibov, Executive Secretary, National Coordination Committee, Republic of Tajikistan
He spoke about a number of concrete suggestions of actual problems resolving, which take place in Tajikistan:
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united approaches to the methodology, system of monitoring and evaluation;
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necessity in closer ties between partners;
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necessity of having full information in neighbor countries;
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necessity of accounting the real needs of the countries;
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necessity of conducting measures not only in cities, but also in rural areas and remote regions;
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necessity of making analysis of economic efficiency of conducting measures.
In addition, he asked donors to render technical support on researching donor blood safety and its components as well as infectious diseases in Republic of Tajikistan.
Conclusions
Reporters summed up the work, performed in the region after conducting the First Central Asian Forum of Partners, working on HIV epidemic counteraction, took place in Samarkand on December 2006, and noted the importance of this event annual holding.
It was noted, that organization and holding of Forum of Partners allows improving interaction and harmonization of activities of international organizations, projects and national partners on efficiency use of HIV epidemic counteraction resources.
Summing up the conducting of Second Central Asian Forum of Partners, it is necessary to note that, as a whole, partner organizations, working on HIV epidemic counteraction in Central Asia, could build a constructive dialogue according to the issues of interaction and coordination of undertaking efforts, discuss further plans and determine main key aspects, demanding special attention.
Taking into account a request of the Health Ministry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, decision was taken to keep the tradition and to conduct the Third Forum of Partners in autumn of 2008, in one of the ancient historical centers of Uzbekistan.
RPMU specialists, coordinating all the organizational issues concerning this event are:
