1-U=U at government/national level

Philippines saw a late adoption of U=U. Government decided to run a combination prevention, which includes U=U. This could be a good advocacy for the government to purchase more viral load machines, so more PLHIV have access to it. Right now, focus is mostly on prevention strategies.

 

2- Sensitization/Training of PLHIVS, Community advocates, service providers and/or CBOS 

Different CBOs from different part of Philippines are forming a coalition. This network is geared to be involved in promoting the U=U principle.

 

3-Incorporating U=U messages in relevant community outreach, education info and social media campaigns 

There are yet to be standard strategies and messages for CBOs to promote U=U. Some organisations promote U=U through facebook and are planning on involving the health care sector to participate in the campaign. One organizations is working on key messages for social media and will go with it post September once they have finalised viral testing protocol.

 

4-Country challenges and barriers

Same-sex behavior is not criminalized under East Timor’s laws. However, laws also do not offer protection against discrimination and social stigma and discrimination are common for LGBT people. Sex work in the country is not illegal per se, though government regulations prohibit persons from organizing prostitution. Possession and/or consumption of drugs are specified as a criminal/specific offence in law in the country. These pose as barriers for specific groups of people from accessing services.

Timor-Leste's legal system is based on civil law. Although a broad range of legislation has been promulgated, further strengthening of legal and judicial frameworks will be key to promoting development and effective governance in Timor-Leste.

 

 

 

 

 

References

  1. org
  2. org
  3. unaids.org
  4. Country progress report - Timor-Leste, Global AIDS Monitoring, 2018
  5. Get PrEP Done! Strategies for raising awareness, acceptability, uptake and effective use of PrEP, webinar of the WHO Global PrEP Network, 7th July, 2021
  6. WHO, Unitaid, and UNAIDS meeting on HIV self-testing and innovative testing approaches in Asia and the Pacific Region: Country progress and plans, December 2020 (https://unitaid.org/assets/PrEP-innovation-and-implementation-in-Asia-and-the-Pacific- Meeting-Report-2020.pdf)
  7. Guidelines on HIV Self-Testing and Partner Notification: Supplement to Consolidated Guidelines on HIV Testing Services, World Health Organization, 2016 (https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK401666/)
  8. PrEP innovation and implementation in Asia and the Pacific: Meeting Report, UNAIDS, Unitaid and WHO in association with the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI), December 2020 (https://unitaid.org/assets/PrEP-innovation-and-implementation-in-Asia-and-the- Pacific-Meeting-Report-2020.pdf)
  9. Asia-Pacific Regional Expert Group Meeting on Reviewing Implementation of Commitments from the Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on HIV AIDS Beyond 2015, ESCAP, 2018 (https://unescap.org/events/asia-pacific-regional-expert-group-meeting-reviewing- implementation-commitments-asia-pacific)
  10. HIV Self-Testing Strategic Framework A Guide For Planning, Introducing And Scaling Up, WHO, October 2018 (https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/275521/9789241514859-eng.pdf)
  11. HIV and AIDS in Asia & The Pacific: Regional Overview (https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/asia- pacific/overview#HIV_testing_and_counselling_(HTC)_in_Asi)
  12. UNAIDS Data 2020 (https://unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2020_aids-data- book_en.pdf)
  13. WHO and partners urge countries to fast-track implementation and scale-up of HIV self- testing and other innovative HIV testing approaches in Asia and the Pacific, March 2021 (https://www.who.int/news/item/16-03-2021-who-and-partners-urge-countries-to-fast- track-implementation-and-scale-up-of-hiv-self-testing-and-other-innovative-hiv-testing- approaches-in-asia-and-the-pacific)