December 1, 2007 - The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is "Leadership - Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise." As described on our HIV/AIDS page, the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) transport sector is committed towards combating HIV/AIDS on our transport projects.
For World AIDS Day, a special paper was released on the innovative and successful work in China. Presentations were also made on the current work in China and Cambodia. Looking ahead to 2008, in line with the Bank-wide strategy for combating HIV/AIDS, the transport sector of EAP continues its efforts to implement HIV/AIDS information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns on all of its projects in an effort to increase awareness. The main objective is to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS to construction workers and local residents affected by the projects. To date, work has been done in several countries, including China, Papua New Guinea and Cambodia. In China, the Shiyan-Manchuanguan Expressway (SME) project examined construction worker awareness and attitude about HIV/AIDS when project work first began in 2004, prior to implementation of an IEC program. Surveys found the following results, which are considered representative of similar China projects: 16 percent only were aware of HIV transmission methods 40 percent thought HIV is transmitted by mosquito bites 71 percent knew how to use condoms 35 percent never and 26 percnet rarely used condoms 33 percent knew where to go for HIV counseling and blood testing services 44 percent had negative attitude toward HIV carriers
"We found very high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in our workers, and a very poor understanding of HIV: how it is transmitted and how to mitigate the risks,” said World Bank program manager Chris Bennett. Following implementation of a successful IEC campaign, including distribution of educational materials and the establishment of a testing and counseling center, awareness among workers increased by over 70 percent and, among residents, by over 50 percent within one year of project works. By 2006, there was nearly a 40 percent decrease in STD cases since project work began, and a 10 percent increase in condom sales overall. The scope and extent of work in the EAP transport sector is planned to increase in 2008.  | 
| Community information and education efforts reached a wide audience. (Photo: Fei Deng) |
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With funding from the Global HIV/AIDS Program, through their ‘HIV/AIDS Transport Incentive Fund’, the EAP transport team has procured the consultant EnCompass to develop a standard IEC campaign with recommended IEC materials. This is to be used to deliver effective HIV/AIDS IEC campaigns to construction workers, local residents and others at risk of HIV/AIDS as a result of the Bank’s civil works activities. It is anticipated that this program will be completed in March 2008. The campaign and materials are being prepared with input from other regions. The generated materials may therefore be applicable to other regions in the Bank in addition to EAP. The IEC campaign and materials will be pilot tested beginning in 2008 on upwards of six projects in China, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea with funding from the AusAID Infrastructure for Growth Trust Fund. Additional funding is being sought for further pilot testing.
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