New information tool developed to address HIV

MANILA, Philippines - In the face of rising cases of HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM), a new information tool for implementing programs to address HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the sector has been developed.

The tool was developed by the United Nations Population Fund, The Global Forum on MSM, United Nations Development Program, World Health Organization, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the United States Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The document, titled “Implementing Comprehensive HIV and STI Programs with Men Who Have Sex With Men: practical guidance for collaborative interventions,” provides steps that public health officials, health workers and non-government organizations can use.

The UNFPA said the information tool outlines the services that the sector – which faces re-emerging and newly documented HIV cases – needs and how it can avail itself of these services.

 “While many low- and middle-income countries have developed national HIV programs, in most places, men who have sex with men remain at disproportionate risk of infection for HIV and resources are often poorly targeted for them,” said George Ayala, executive director of MSMGF.

Ayala said many men who have sex with men do not get the services for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of HIV and other STIs. 

“Around the world, there are organizations, big and small, that are finding ways to help men who have sex with men protect their health and their rights. We hope these examples will provide ideas and encouragement to program providers,” Benoit Kalasa, director of UNFPA’s technical division, said.