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Satellite Meeting
Data Sources, Data Uses - Identify Gaps in HIV Data for Decision Making in Asia and the Pacific Region

Introductory Remarks by
Ursula Schaefer-Preuss
Vice President, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development
Asian Development Bank

At the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific

10 August 2009
Jakarta, Indonesia

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen: good afternoon. I am very pleased to be here today, representing the Asian Development (ADB). On behalf of ADB, I want to express my thanks to the conference organizers and our host, the Government of Indonesia.

Ladies and gentlemen, the purpose of this meeting is to discuss the need for critical data on the HIV epidemic and how to use these data to support evidence-based policies, program designs and resource allocation. Without accurate and timely data, we cannot formulate effective and efficient policies: we rely on guesses and estimates, which is certainly not the best way to respond to the HIV epidemic.

ADB and Regional HIV/AIDS Data Hub for Asia and the Pacific

ADB understands the importance of data collection and analysis, and we have been working with our partners to assist countries in the region in this regards. In fact, December of last year on the World AIDS Day, I had the privilege to launch the Regional HIV/AIDS Data Hub together with the following distinguished leaders:

• Mdm. Anupama Rao Singh - Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, of UNICEF



• Dr. Amala Reddy, Regional Programme Advisor, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific, representing UNAIDS and Mr Prasada Rao; and



• Dr. Massimo Ghidinelli - Regional HIV and AIDS Adviser for Western Pacific, WHO.

Let me thank them again and acknowledge their significant role in developing, launching and maintaining the Regional Data Hub.

The Regional Data Hub

The regional data hub is a joint initiative that allows us to assist our member countries to effectively use their financial and human resources for fighting the epidemic in the region. In many countries, national data collection and analysis need to be strengthened. Moreover, the establishment of a regional support mechanism to support, review and validate country estimates and projections on HIV infections and resource needs will benefit the countries and the region as a whole.

Often, national and regional responses to HIV/AIDS have been undermined by generic approaches, which do not address the major drivers of the epidemic to the specific, local requirements. According to a recent study by the Commission on AIDS in Asia, effective prevention services for those groups most at risk of infection can avert 80% of new infections.¹ This reiterates the importance of accurate local data collection and analysis. In many countries in the region, critical data on the HIV epidemics is still limited or unavailable to the policy-makers. Without this information, national AIDS programs cannot identify the priorities, progress, and impact of interventions. Pivotal to a successful response is the availability of data disaggregated by geographic areas, gender and poverty status. You have to know the characteristics of the epidemic in your region to take appropriate steps to achieve the Millennium Development Goal - halting and beginning reverse the spread of HIV by 2015 (MDG6).

ADB is committed to the effective operations of the Regional Data Hub. However, we also recognize that it is not the only solution which is available. We believe there are other ways in which the current efforts can be complemented and supplemented. This leads to the importance of this satellite session - to bring together other ideas and experiences, so that we can take collective action to become effective in our struggle against the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Conclusions

In conclusion, I want to express my thanks again for inviting me to this important conference. While we are proud of our partnership with UNICEF, UNAIDS and WHO in the Regional HIV/AIDS Data Hub, we know that additional challenges lie ahead of us. Thus, we need build even stronger and wider-reach partnerships. We are fortunate to have with us today experts in data collection, analysis and interpretation. We hope that this session will help identify these challenges, formulate appropriate recommendations to strengthen data collection and analysis in the region, and forge the necessary partnerships for sharing data and experiences. Thank you very much again, and I will look forward to the productive discussions.