HIV/Aids in the western Balkans

Authors: Joana Godinho, World Bank, Dorothee Eckertz, Nedim Jaganjac

Edition: illustrated

Publisher: World Bank Publications, 2005

ISBN 0821363948, 9780821363942

195 pages

This study was undertaken to enable regional decisionmakers and Bank management to agree on the priorities for early action in the Western Balkans to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS - and its potential human and economic costs - in the framework of the UN "Three Ones": one national AIDS Strategy that drives alignment of all partners; one national AIDS authority to coordinate it; and one nationally-owned monitoring and evaluation system.

The study also aimed at informing the Bank's policy dialogue and operational work to control HIV/AIDS in the Balkans; and contributing to building up the regional partnership between governments, civil society, UN agencies, and multilateral and bilateral agencies to prevent HIV/AIDS, sexually-transmitted infections and TB; and to improve public health in this region.

The most striking feature in the Balkans is the high-risk environment. All major factors that could serve as contributing factors for the breakout an HIV/AIDS epidemic are present in the Balkans. Severe political instability, wars and consequent economc crisis and migration in this region over the last 10 years have generated poverty and presented overwhelming challenges which have affected all countries in varying degrees