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World Bank contest for tackling AIDS in South Asia

NEW DELHI: A competition to identify innovative approaches to tackle the problem of HIV/AIDS in South Asia has been launched.

The World Bank’s Development Marketplace was initiated on Tuesday with the collaboration of the United Nations and private sector partners. This competitive programme will identify and fund innovative approaches to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS in the region, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Titled “Tackling HIV and AIDS Stigma and Discrimination: From Insights to Action,” the competition is reaching out to communities across the region seeking proposals for local, small-scale projects with the potential for scaling up and replication.

The winners will be selected by an international jury of the World Bank and independent HIV and AIDS experts at the Development Marketplace meet in May 2008 in Mumbai.

In South Asia, anecdotal evidence and research are demonstrating the extent of the role of stigma in hampering prevention, treatment, and care of HIV and AIDS. For instance, a study in India found that 34 per cent of students, faculty, and technical staff of the public health services would not associate with people living with HIV and AIDS.

The epidemic in South Asia is mainly driven by high-risk practices such as sex work, injection of drugs and unprotected sex between men.

The South Asia Regional Development Marketplace is implemented in partnership with the U.N. agencies and the private sector.

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World Bank contest for tackling AIDS in South Asia

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