Scaling up HIV responses in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific region
27 March 2008
Alliance linking organisation, the Philippine NGO Support Programme (PHANSuP) will this year begin to scale up its operations in HIV, reproductive health and community development not only in the Philippines but across the Asia-Pacific region.
The expansion aims are set out in PHANSuP’s 2008-2010 strategic framework which will guide the organisation’s work. The strategy was developed following a rigorous, consultative process with input from government, NGOs, people living with HIV and international organisations.
“We intend to build on the tremendous gains the organisation has made since its inception as one of the two pioneer in-country pilot programmes of the Alliance in 1993,” said Roberto Nebrida, PHANSuP’s executive director.
“With the strong support of our international, regional and local partners, the time is ripe for PHANSuP to take a strategic position in helping develop an effective response to the HIV pandemic in Asia-Pacific.” he said.
The process highlighted PHANSuP’s identity as a leader in the convergence of HIV with reproductive health and community development in the Asia-Pacific region. Through partnerships with more than 100 grassroots organisations and over a decade of operating experience in the country, PHANSuP has accumulated skills, experience and expertise that means it is well placed to fulfil this role.
To achieve its aims and effectively coordinate stakeholders’ efforts in delivering HIV, reproductive health and community services PHANSuP has established three operating units which will receive ongoing technical support from the Alliance.
The Alliance Regional Technical Support for Asia-Pacific (AReTS Asia-Pacific) will provide capacity building services to community-based organisations and local NGOs across the region.
The Alliance Against AIDS in the Philippines (Alliance Philippines) will bring together various stakeholders to develop a comprehensive response to the threat of HIV in the country.
The Asia Pacific Reprohealth and Development Centre (APRDC) will offer services such as event organising, conferences, training, publications as well as social projects such as youth and community outreach.
APRDC is currently working with UNFPA organising the second international conference on reproductive health management in Bali, Indonesia, scheduled for May this year. It has also developed and run a training programme on social entrepreneurship and enterprise development for population, health and development practitioners.
