Country Profiles

Programs

The MSM Regional ("Purple Sky") Network
FHI works to prevent HIV among those at risk of contracting it, including men who have sex with men (MSM) and the transgender communities. With its support for 24 organizations in Asia, each year FHI reaches an average of 200,000 men who have sex with men and trangender people.
To further regional efforts to reduce the spread of HIV among MSM, FHI will support the Foundation for AIDS Research (amFAR) in the role of regional coordination secretariat for the Purple Sky Network, a regional network consisting of MSM-related governmental and nongovernmental organizations in Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam. The network aims to strengthen MSM interventions in the region by developing and advocating for services, programs, and policies to reduce HIV transmission. (MSM Regional Network brief, PDF)

The Integrated Analysis and Advocacy (A2) Project
Through the A2 Project, FHI and its regional and local partners aim to develop a clear understanding of local HIV epidemics and to translate that understanding into effective polices and appropriately targeted and resourced programs. The project has had significant impact on HIV strategic planning in Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yunnan and Guangxi provinces in China.

For example, in Thailand, the A2 team supported the development and adoption of a national HIV prevention goal. In Vietnam, A2 processes are supporting provincial adaptation of the national strategy on HIV prevention and control. And in China, A2 analyses have led to refinements of the targets set in Yunnan's five-year HIV/AIDS action plan, increased interventions targeting MSM in Guangxi, and the initiation of projects targeting MSM by the Yunnan CDC. (A2 Project brief, PDF)

HIV Testing and Counseling Demonstration Project
Because of the high prevalence of HIV (and new infections) among MSM in Thailand, it is increasingly important to help MSM learn their HIV status and reduce barriers to voluntary counseling and testing (VCT). FHI will assess VCT facilities that serve MSM and male sex workers at two sites in Thailand. The objectives are to

identify barriers to uptake of HIV testing and counseling services
evaluate the impact of implementing quality improvement measures based on accepted best practices for VCT services
disseminate the results of the assessment to organizations that serve MSM so that best practices can be replicated at other sites in Thailand