PRESS RELEASE

Workshop to build health care capacity for HIV-related treatment in four ASEAN countries
On the eve of World AIDS Day, regional health experts will gather in Bangkok to Universal Health System and HIV/AIDS treatment services
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency (TICA), and the National Health Security Office will host a regional workshop for health experts in Bangkok 26-29 November to examine Thai (UHC) programme, with an aim to build capacity in their respective countries on HIV/AIDS treatment and care services. People living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region face exclusion, marginalization, poverty and severe shocks to their livelihoods. A recent report by the Commission on AIDS in Asia estimated the annual economic cost of AIDS on Asian households at US $2 billion. Each AIDS death results in a loss of at least US $5,000 or 14 years of productive life calculated at a modest US $ 1 a day. Ten participants from the ASEAN countries of Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines will share experiences and learn lessons from Thai experts in the field of UHC and HIV/AIDS services. The 40 design, as well as the powerful role of civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Th experiences and experiences on HIV/AIDS treatment and care services in UHC are considered one of

This regional workshop is one of the activities for partnership for development where Thailand and UNDP have agreed to host this significant forum which Thailand can share its best practices / experiences with other partner countries, Mr. Piroon Lai-smit, Director-General of Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency. TICA will continue to play its role in strengthening capacity for development with our development partners to bring better social and economic prosperity to the region. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon set an ambitious global vision of zero new HIV infections, zero AIDSrelated deaths, and zero discrimination by 2015. The knowledge gained from the workshop will be critical to the approaches used to achieve MDG targets and global vision. Access to HIV/AIDS treatment and universal health coverage go hand in hand with social justice and a United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand.
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