Asian HIV/Aids Database launched

A new UN-backed website has launched providing details of HIV/AIDS prevalence in the Asia Pacific region, bringing together a host of resources on the disease for researchers, healthcare providers and government officials.

The site, described as a hub for information on HIV/AIDS, is endorsed by the UNIADS programme, Unicef, World Health Organisation and Asian Development Bank.

Data included on the www.aidsdatahub.org site includes coutry HIV/AIDS profiles, maps and other resources for health professionals and policy makers. Profiles are listed for 25 Asian countries, ranging from Vietnam to Afghanistan.

Latest predictions are that cases of HIV/AIDS could dounble to hit 10 million in Asia by 2010, unless nations take stronger steps to control the disease.

Infection rates are predicted to hit 500,000 new cases each year as infection rates rise among men having sex with other men.

And some 50m women are said to be endangered by the behaviour of husbands and boyfriends, said Amala Reddy, of the Joint United Nations Programme on Aids, according to an AFP agency report

The new estimates were announced by officials at the unveiling of an online database on HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region.

The www.aidsdatahub.org site contains information on HIV prevalence, risk behaviour and government response in various Asian countries and even in regions within these countries.

It brings all information on HIV/AIDS in Asia to one place where it can be accessed by governments, non-government organisations and researchers. The site was launched at the Asia Development Bank headquarters in Manila last week.