AFAO Media Release | 1 December 2010

Escalating HIV epidemics among MSM in Asia and the Pacific – Australia must invest urgently 

The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) today called for urgent investment to stem the unchecked HIV epidemics continuing to sweep through MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) and transgender populations in Asia and the Pacific said Don Baxter, AFAO Executive Director.

“The Australian Government invested seriously for injecting drug use four years ago but still has not invested significantly in prevention for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender, even though we know they will be contributing more new HIV infections than those arising from injecting over the next decade,” he said.

“The 2010 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, released this week for World AIDS Day, confirms that MSM have HIV infection rates which are orders of magnitude greater than the general population in every low and middle country we look at,” Baxter said.

 “Last week the Global Fund for AIDS, TB & Malaria released a report showing very few countries are investing funds in prevention for MSM – with the only honourable exception being Thailand.”

“The Gillard Government laudably increased Australia’s contribution to the Global Fund by 55% this year but it has not increased the very small allocation of funds – less than $2m per year - for the fasting-growing epidemics in the Asia-Pacific region.”

“We call on the Australian government to urgently allocate $30m over the next five years for an effective program which reduces HIV infections among MSM – among both their male and their many female sexual partners”, Baxter said.
“This investment by Australia is a matter of both generosity and self-interest. The cultural, tourism and business ties that bind us to our region mean Australia should act now before these epidemics all get way out of hand – as has already happened in Thailand and Myanmar”, Mr Baxter said. 

Mr Baxter said that Australia’s current investment in Asia Pacific HIV prevention involved contributing more than $60 million over 5 years with injecting drug use, compared to less than $1 million for HIV prevention among gay and bisexual men.