INNOVAIDS

INNOVAIDS is a regional programme of Population Services International (PSI) that operates in the six Mekong countries of Cambodia, China (Shanxi and Yunnan), Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It seeks to improve access to existing HIV prevention products, and introduces new products and services such as male and female condoms, water-based lubricants, pre-packaged therapy for treatment of sexually-transmitted infections, voluntary HIV counselling and testing services and products/services to reduce drug-related HIV risk. It is targeted at high-risk groups such as: sex workers and their clients; injecting drug users and their sexual partners; men who have sex with men; mobile populations; uniformed personnel; and vulnerable youth. INNOVAIDS also provides training and technical assistance to host government counterparts, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private sector providers.

INNOVAIDS was launched in October 2003, and is the second phase of a project designed to increase the contribution of social marketing to HIV/AIDS prevention in Asia. The first phase provided technical training to more than 100 national staff from 15 social marketing organisations (SMOs) in 12 Asian countries (though primarily in the six Mekong states) on topics ranging from audience research and behaviour change communications to the introduction of new HIV products and services. The SMOs were also provided with financial and technical support to test several new products and service innovations.