Singapore, Nov 7, 2006: With an estimated 9,30,000 new HIV infections in Asia and Pacific in 2005, UN agencies have called for urgent efforts to better integrate HIV prevention, treatment and care into maternal and newborn health services to prevent the escalating spread of the virus and reduce mortality.

Calls for strengthening integration of these vital health services came at the opening of the first Asia Pacific Joint Forum in Malaysia.

The meeting, held in Malaysia from November 6 to 10, brings together health professionals, governments, people living with HIV, and civil society groups from 22 countries in the region. It has been jointly organized by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNAIDS. Delegates are expected to agree on a framework for stronger links between maternal and child health, family planning, sexual health and counselling and testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

With 60 per cent of the world's population living in this region and many countries with a high proportion of young people between the ages of 15 and 25, the need to scale up HIV prevention, treatment and care efforts and provide better reproductive health services, is urgent. Due to inadequate maternal and child health services, many countries also suffer from high maternal and infant mortality, especially during a child's first month of life.

HIV/ AIDS Adviser, UNFPA Country Technical Services Team in for Asia and the Pacific for the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund said, “Linking HIV prevention efforts with reproductive health care can strengthen and improve access to both. Millions of women who don't know their HIV status have an unmet need for effective contraception. Integrated services would enable them to protect themselves and also reduce HIV transmission to their children.''

The number of new infections amongst children and young people is also growing. In 2005, there was an estimated 8.3 million people, including 411,000 children living with HIV in Asia and Pacific, with 82,000 infected that year alone. About 90 percent of these children were infected as a result of mother to child transmission.

''Many countries in Asia and the Pacific already have national guidelines in place for the prevention of parent to child transmission. Many countries have trained health workers and are introducing treatment,'' said Mr Richard Bridle, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

''The challenge remains how we better link these efforts to prevent disease and improve nutrition to provide a holistic package of services for mothers and their children.''