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New Technical Support Hub Launched

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CLAC Launches Global Technical Support Hub to Advance the Health and Rights of Key Populations and People Living with HIV

New Coalition to Provide Community-Led Technical Support in Novel Approach to Addressing HIV among Key Populations Globally

The Community Leadership and Action Collaborative (CLAC) has launched a new global technical support hub, helping communities of men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users, sex workers, transgender people and people living with HIV (PLHIV) to engage successfully with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Launched at the 20th International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Melbourne, Australia, the new hub provides access to tools and resources for building and strengthening community systems and a database for technical support concerning the HIV response. The hub also serves as a portal for communities to access direct technical support provided by the CLAC’s seven member organizations: the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE), the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD), and the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC).

“We are excited to announce the launch of the CLAC’s new technical support hub at this year’s IAC, following the conclusion of the MSMGF Pre-conference,” said Dr. George Ayala, Executive Director of the MSMGF.

“The CLAC offers an important opportunity to ensure the meaningful engagement and empowerment of all key populations in the HIV response. We know that we cannot successfully respond to HIV without the full meaningful participation of communities, and that is what the CLAC strives to do.”

The CLAC is committed to the provision of technical support that is hands-on, interactive and occurs in an environment of mutual trust, respect and sharing. Rather than conducting one-off trainings, the CLAC reinforces ideas and actions by linking them with technical assistance and ongoing mentoring. This includes facilitating opportunities for formal and informal knowledge sharing and joint actions, which promote recognition and appreciation of the unique experiences and expertise of community stakeholders. This is particularly important for PLHIV, MSM, people who inject drugs, sex workers and transgender people, for whom human rights are routinely contested.

The new technical support hub can be accessed at http://www.clac.cab.

Consolidated guidelines (UNAIDS 2014)

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People at higher risk of HIV infection are not getting the health services they need, according to a new report by the World Health Organization entitled Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations.

Released on 11 July, the publication warns that failure to provide adequate

 

HIV services for key groups, such as men who have sex with men, people in prison, people who inject drugs, sex workers and transgender people, threatens the global progress of the HIV response.

The consolidated guidelines outline the steps for countries to take to reduce new HIV infections and increase access to HIV testing, treatment and care services by populations at higher risk. The report aims to provide a comprehensive package of evidence-informed HIV-related recommendations for all populations, increase awareness of the needs of and issues important to key populations, improve access, coverage and uptake of effective and acceptable services, and catalyse greater national and global commitment to adequate funding and services.

“Failure to provide services to the people who are at greatest risk of HIV jeopardizes further progress against the global epidemic and threatens the health and well-being of individuals, their families and the broader community.”

Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of the HIV Department at the World Health Organization

 

First published – July 11 2014