During the 2022-2023 biennium, the Asia and Pacific region maintained progress in increasing treatment and prevention service coverage for key populations. Highly effective pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs are more widely available after being included in 19 countries’ national guidelines and being provided as part of service packages in 17 countries. More than one million adolescents and young people were sensitized on HIV prevention and access to HIV testing services has improved for mobile populations. HIV self-testing was implemented in 18 countries, following technical support from the Joint Programme.
Asia and Pacific
By the end of 2023, most countries in the region had transitioned to dolutegravir-based HIV treatment regimens and were working to transition all eligible people living with HIV to that regimen by 2024. Community-led monitoring and programme implementation were enhanced thanks to a new regional framework and improved evidence collection and analysis.
The Joint Programme supported several initiatives to reduce stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against key populations, including the establishment of legal aid desks and case-reporting mechanisms, as well as capacity building and policy reforms. People from key populations, including transgender persons, are increasingly empowered to advocate for their rights and to address barriers that prevent them from accessing health-care and social protection services. Thousands of people living with HIV, women, girls, survivors of gender-based violence, sex workers and people from other key populations in 10 countries also received US$ 2.2 million worth of financial support through mobile and bank transfers, cash in-hand and block-chain vouchers to improve their livelihoods.