Key Populations
HIV intervention among people who inject drugs
Unsafe injection of drugs is one of the factors that drive the evolving HIV epidemics in most Asia Pacific countries and areas. Sexual partners of people who inject drugs are also affected and infected by HIV, a development that complicates HIV epidemics and co-infections with hepatitis C.
Asia Pacific countries and areas have responded to these developments in various ways, such as needle and syringe programmes. Methadone and buprenorphine clinics are increasingly becoming available, and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people who use drugs is improving.
To sufficiently scale up efforts to halt the spread of HIV and hepatitis C co-infection among people who inject drugs, A Strategy to Halt and Reverse the HIV Epidemic among People who Inject Drugs in Asia and the Pacific 2010–2015 was introduced to provide practical tools to national governments and developing agencies in crafting strategies for harm reduction and universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, including ART.