HIV/AIDS
To prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce its impact, developing countries need to mobilize all levels of government and civil society. As a trusted development partner, UNDP advocates for placing HIV/AIDS at the centre of national planning and budgets; helps build national capacity to manage initiatives that include people and institutions not usually involved with public health; and promotes decentralized responses that support community-level action. Because HIV/AIDS is a world-wide problem, UNDP supports these national efforts by offering knowledge, resources and best practices from around the world.
HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina are mainstreamed trough the Country Office Energy and environment Cluster activities mainly focused on prevent an increase of infections and improve access to basic education, health and social protection services.
BACKGROUND
HIV/AIDS has limited impact so far in BiH with only 33 reported cases of people living with this disease currently on antiretroviral therapy. Although there is a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in BiH, there is close attention to the issue to prevent an increase of infections. Tuberculosis is a serious health threat with 51 sufferers per 100,000 people. BiH national experts for communicable diseases have identified Tuberculosis as a health priority for the country and the Ministries of Health in BiH have agreed in 1996 that a DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course) should be implemented country-wide. Groups particularly vulnerable to the disease include those living in poverty, ethnic minorities and Roma, prisoners and displaced persons. Women are at particular risk in all categories.
In response to the insufficient national capacity to implement the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the BiH Country Coordination Mechanism members have identified UNDP BiH as a main partner in Fund implementation.
Since 2007, UNDP has worked intensively on capacity building of government institutions and at nine NGOs. The delivery on the grants has been highly rated by the Global Fund, for both the HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis components. The main lesson pertains to the constraints presented by the low levels of knowledge for monitoring activities, which partly slows down the capacity development activities in this area. UNDP continuously work with the national counterparts and key stakeholders to strengthen their capacities in the area of HIV/AIDS and TB, and especially as related to their future role as the Principal Recipient of GFATM grants.
OBJECTIVES AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES
HIV/AIDS:
1. Scaled up Information Education Communications/Behavior Change Communications Prevention Education Among Youth
2. IEC/BCC (Information, education and communication/behavioral change communication) in Populations with Increased Risk for HIV/AIDS Infection
3. Improved Access and Quality of Voluntary Counseling and Testing
4. Reduced Number of HIV/AIDS Co-Infections With Tuberculosis
5. Improved Access and Quality of Harm Reduction Services
6. Introduced HIV Prevention in Roma Communities and Former Displaced Persons
7. Universal Free Access Provided for people living with HIV/ADIS to Anti-Retroviral Therapies, treatment of Opportunistic Infections, Hospitalization, Psychosocial Counseling and Palliative Care
8. Established Global Fund Programme Management
9. Global Fund Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
Tuberculosis:
1. Increased capacity for case detection
2. Ensured and maintain access to TB programme for vulnerable groups
3. Maintain control of Drug resistance through early detection and effective treatment of new cases and appropriate management of drug resistant cases
RELATED MDGs
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
OUTCOMES
HIV/AIDS:
1. Increase survival rates of PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) one year after diagnosis from 25% to 90% by establishing VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) services and referral system;
2. Decrease stigma and discrimination against PLWHA and people under increased risk of infection;
3. The overall strategy envisions localizing prevention and increasing access to good quality services tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations
Tuberculosis:
1. Improved access to and quality of basic education, health and social protection services
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