11th EAC TWG MEETING ON HIV AND AIDS, TB AND STIs ONGOING IN ENTEBBE

The 11th EAC Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting on HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) commenced 17 February 2014 in Entebbe, Uganda. The 5 day meeting will among other issues, review progress of implementation of the EAC Regional HIV and AIDS programme and map a way forward for the programme for FY 2014/15.

The meeting will also review and validate the 1st EAC HIV and AIDS Epidemic Report whose development was commissioned by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with UNAIDS RST and also review and validate the study report on Comprehensive Analysis of the HIV and AIDS Legislation, Bills, Policies and Strategies in the East African Community.

The TWG is expected to endorse a work plan for the HIV and AIDS project for the period 1stJuly 2014 to 30th June 2015; as well as receive updates from Lake Victoria Basin Commission on  a Sero-behavioural study in the Republic of Rwanda; review and input into concept note to Global Fund on HIV, TB and Malaria; revise Terms of Reference for conducting a midterm review of the EAC HIV and AIDS project and for conducting a size estimation study for MAPS in the EAC; and finally develop the EAC HIV and AIDS Multisectoral Strategic plan 2015 - 2020.

The outputs of this meeting will feed into the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the Sectoral Committee on Health scheduled to be held in March 2014 and subsequently, the 9th Sectoral Council on Regional cooperation on Health to be held in April 2014.

Participants of the meeting include members of the TWG on HIV and AIDS, TB and STIs, EAC Partner States, technical officers from National AIDS Councils/Commissions, National AIDS Control Programmes, East Africa National Networks of AIDS Services Organization (EANASSO) as well as representatives from LVBC, IUCEA, LVFO and development partners.