Improving access to prevention, testing and treatment of HIV and STIs

Countries and areas in the WHO Western Pacific Region have made considerable progress in preventing and controlling the HIV epidemic. Governments have scaled up access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy.  An estimated 81% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who know their status in the Region had access to antiretroviral therapy at the end of 2022.

Despite this progress, many obstacles lie on the path to ending the HIV epidemic. WHO Western Pacific Regional Office supports Member States to improve access to prevention, testing and treatment of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by:  

• Advocating towards safe sex (including promoting condom usage) and against stigma and discrimination.  
• Providing technical support for prevention (including pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP), and strengthening epidemiological and programmatic information systems.
• Providing technical support for Member States to promote adaptation of WHO guidelines for HIV and STIs.
• Providing technical support for Member States to expand access to quality HIV and STI testing, treatment and care services.
• Supporting countries to strengthen surveillance systems for HIV and STIs
• Working towards integration of HIV, STI and viral hepatitis within primary health care settings