Workshop organized by UNDP-SEAHIV, NCCAB and MCTPC, Lao PDR

Foreword

The communication, transport, post, construction and tourism sectors have unique contributions to make in the reduction of HIV vulnerabilities, particularly for mobile populations. Many of the conditions by which HIV spreads can be changed through the strategies and policies of these sectors. The UNDP South East Asia HIV and Development Project assisted the Bureau of the National Committee for the Control of AIDS and the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction in organizing two workshops, one on the 24th-26th July 2000 and the second on 8th-9th August 2001 in Vientiane, Lao PDR to facilitate the development of HIV prevention strategies and policies.
Participants included representatives from organizations and companies of the transport, communication, construction, post, tourism and health sectors: the Ministry of Communication, Transportation, Post and Construction, the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, Electricite du Laos. Transport Association No. 1, Transport Association No. 3, the Department of Planning and the Lao National Tourism Centre. These workshops are a result of requests by Lao PDR to UNDP to begin engaging multiple sectors in formulating HIV vulnerability reduction policies and strategies. These workshops recommended that the sectors become a member of the new NCCA and participate in the National HIV Strategic Planning for 2002-2004 by incorporating the workshop recommendations as part of the plan. The goal is to enhance and extend the multi-sectoral nature of Lao PDR's national response to the HIV epidemic. Special acknowledgements are due to the following organizations and individuals: the NCCA, especially the Director, Dr Chansy Phimphachanh, for co-organizing, coordinating and facilitating both workshops and providing technical expertise on HIV in Lao PDR and the Ministry of Communication, Transportation, Post and Construction, for it's excellent organization and participation at the August 2001 workshop. For the July 2000 workshop: Dr Bounpeng Philavong. NCCA policy officer, for providing interpretation and translation: UNAIDS Asia Pacific Inter-Country Team, for providing Mr. Tony Lisle as a resource person: Mr. Bruce Parnell. consultant for UNDP-SEAHIV from Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, for facilitating the workshop: and Ms Kari Nordheim-Larsen. Lao PDR UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, for her full support of both workshops.

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October 2001