A four-day inter-country consultation on HIV prevention among injecting drug users (IDUs) took place in Kolkata, India from April 10-13, 2007 co-hosted by the World Bank, United Nations Organization for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Department for International Development (DFID, UK), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and National AIDS Control Organization, India (NACO).
The consultation considered key issues pertaining to drug use and HIV transmission. It also reviewed the evidence base for a comprehensive package to prevent HIV among IDUs. International and national best-practices were presented and discussed. Lessons learned from local experiences with HIV prevention among IDUs were also presented, and visits were made to sites in Kolkata which are implementing good practices.
The consultation served as an opportunity for the World Bank and donor partners to explore new ways of assisting the countries of South Asia to strengthen their HIV prevention programs through policy, analytical work and fund provision.
