From July 23–27, 2018, thousands of advocates, researchers, policymakers, journalists, people living with HIV, and other civil society members gathered In Amsterdam to share knowledge, discuss critical issues, and reveal new scientific findings at the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018). The SHIFT Program had a strong presence at the week-long event, co-presenting several sessions and events on a variety of topics relating to the sustainable financing of HIV programs of 4 countries in transition – Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Joselyn Pang, AFAO, International Program Manager and Rapeepun Jommaroeng, TNAF, SHIFT Program Manager, presented key findings from SHIFT’s baseline evaluation and lessons learnt on HIV financing from the SHIFT Program on a session panels, “Building Bridges with Business the Asian Way”, and “Leaving No One Behind: Sustaining the MSM and Transgender Community Response in the Age of HIV Financing in Transition”.

SHIFT IAC team members, Sindi Putri and Bariyah Bariyah,  presented their abstracts in three separate poster presentations (“A Community Perspective of Indonesian Universal Health Care (JKN)”; “A tale of two cities: a comparison of district-level analysis of HIV budgets in Bandung and Semarang, Indonesia”; and ““Musrenbang: An Involvement the HIV community in the budget cycle process to strength the country role for HIV responses in Indonesia” ), while SHIFT team members Rapeepun Jommaroeng and Jonas Bagas presented their work in two oral posters (“Post-global fund HIV financing: A promising transitioning model and the implementation of plan from the SHIFT (Sustainable HIV Financing in Transition) Program in Thailand”; and  “Building a constituency of advocates for sustainability: Identifying the capacity needs of HIV CSOs and key populations to advocate for HIV financing and sustainability in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand”) in a conference session on “Meeting the challenge: Community financing for a sustained response”.

Aside from participating in the conference sessions, the SHIFT team also attended an AFAO social event celebrating the partnerships AFAO has developed through its work in the Asia-Pacific region through the SHIFT program and the development of AFAO’s next multi-country program. During this event, brief comments were made by Hon Dr Brett Mason, Australia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands; Hon Lisa Singh, Senator and Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Liaison Group on HIV/AIDS, Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infections, as well as Dr Bridget Haire, National President of AFAO.

As we take stock of SHIFT’s engagement during the week of AIDS 2018, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge all stakeholders in the HIV response. We would also like to recognise the commitment and participation of HIV scientist, researchers, policymakers, programme implementers, healthcare workers, and community representatives, who were (and also who were not!) in attendance at the conference this year.SHIFT is proud to be building and empowering a constituency of HIV Financing advocates across Asia-Pacific. Thanks to everyone for working with our SHIFT team members to make AIDS 2018 such a great outcome.  
  • For rapporteur summaries of the various AIDS 2018 Conference Programme Sessions click here.
  • For session recordings of the various AIDS 2018 Conference Programme Sessions click here
  • For more SHIFT @ AIDS 2018 Photos visit the SHIFT Facebook Page click here.

Joselyn Pang, presenting key findings from SHIFT’s baseline evaluation and lessons learnt on HIV financing from the SHIFT Programme. as part of an AIDS Satellite Symposium Session “Building Bridges with Business the Asian Way”.

SHIFT IAC team, Sindi Putra, presented her work in a poster presentation: “A Community Perspective of Indonesian Universal Health Care (JKN)”.

Yenti Nurhidayat, from SEKNAS FITRA, presenting “A tale of two cities: a comparison of district-level analysis of HIV budgets in Bandung and Semarang, Indonesia”.