MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
The five-year project has been awarded to aid and development consultants,
Melbourne University Private, who will work with local government and community
groups to reduce the spread HIV and AIDS and improve the care for those living
with HIV and AIDS.
By lowering the region's high levels of HIV transmission, the five-year
project will help reduce poverty and the high social, economic and community
costs associated with high levels of HIV/AIDS.
To be implemented in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a region in China's
northwest with the country's second highest incidence of HIV, the project will
implement a range of HIV/AIDS reduction strategies. These include improving the
capacity of local institution in Xinjiang Uygur to deal with HIV/AIDS, promoting
HIV/AIDS awareness and healthy behaviour among the general population, and
training for health workers and family carers.
Australia's success and expertise in designing and implementing innovative
and effective strategies for tackling HIV/AIDS are recognised internationally.
Through AusAID, the Australian Government's overseas aid agency, Australia is
playing a leading role in helping countries in the region counter the advance of
AIDS.
Australia is providing more than $200 million over six years to assist
countries like Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, India and China to prevent the
epidemic from devastating the health of their populations and stalling their
social and economic development.
Media contacts:
Matt Francis (Ministerial) 02 6277 7500 / 0419 206 890
Geoff Adlide (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 / 0412 804 489