UNICEF in Action
In the early 1900s, the Georgian Government identified HIV/AIDS as a priority issue. The National AIDS Programme implemented since 1994, incorporates: HIV/STI surveillance; donor blood testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C; public education; free HIV testing for high risk groups; diagnostics; care and symptomatic treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. Georgia has a specialized HIV/AIDS service with 70 laboratories throughout the country. Since 1999, the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and World Bank), has strengthened coordination with the Georgian Government, local and international NGOs. UNICEF has been the leading technical agency within the UN Theme Group since 1999 The joint partnership has encompassed: Advocacy and Policy Development – UNICEF played a lead role in launching and implementing the National Strategic Planning Process on HIV/AIDS. The Comprehensive Situation and Response Analysis on HIV/AIDS, led to the elaboration of the 2003-2007 National Strategic Plan of Action in 2002. Leveraging Resources – UNICEF played a key role in mobilizing 12 million USD from the Global Fund to fully cover the financial gap of the five-year national action plan. Programme Communication – Since 1999, the National AIDS Center, UNICEF and other partners, have been commemorating World AIDS Day campaigns and AIDS Candlelight Days. Thousands of young people have been involved in the commemorative campaigns through special caravans, youth meetings, press conferences, dissemination of information packages and sporting events. Capacity Building – UNICEF has supported National and International Training Programmes for Government and NGO partners in National Strategic Planning, Life Skills Education, Peer Education, and the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission. Impact Under the global fund project, the government has already achieved remarkable progress: a legislative framework for harm-reduction programmes is in place, HIV/AIDS information, education, voluntary counselling and testing services for youth and high risk groups have been expanded, nation-wide scale-up of prevention of mother-to-child transmission and 100 per cent accessibility to care and treatment have been ensured.
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