Prevention options, including both oral and injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), are central to HIV prevention in the Asia-Pacific region. Community-led organisations play an equally vital role in advocating for and delivering these prevention services, ensuring they reach the most affected populations. Despite PrEP’s proven efficacy, its uptake across the region remains suboptimal, underscoring the need for targeted, coordinated efforts to address barriers to access, awareness, and adherence. In 2024, the area had an estimated 6.9 million people living with HIV, and accounted for nearly one-quarter (23 %) of new HIV infections globally. The data also show that new HIV infections in the Asia-Pacific declined by only 17 % since 2010, well behind global targets.
In this context, APCOM is committed to advancing the health and rights of men who have sex with men (MSM) and SOGIESC communities by strengthening prevention programming and addressing stigma and inequalities. Through our annual Community Summit, this year’s Summit will be on PrEPARING ASIA 2025: Making Prevention Choice a Reality, APCOM will convene approximately 80 community leaders, governments, and partners to develop a roadmap for scaling up PrEP, both oral and injectable, at the country level.
“In the current political and funding environment and amid rising HIV cases in several countries, community-led organisations are at the forefront of advocating for and delivering combination prevention. When supported with adequate resources and policy alignment, key population-led service providers can ensure that comprehensive prevention options are accessible, acceptable and equitable, helping countries meet the 2025 regional targets and sustain progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030,”
commented Midnight, APCOM Executive Director.
The consultation aims to define actionable strategies for community-led organisations to design, implement, and sustain comprehensive prevention programmes that respond to the evolving needs of key populations across the region.
With the recent suspension of USAID and PEPFAR funding, countries in Asia and the Pacific face mounting challenges in sustaining access to HIV prevention services, particularly in scaling up oral and long-acting PrEP. The PrEPARING Asia 2025 Community Summit, organised by APCOM in collaboration with various stakeholders is being convened to address these urgent gaps and identify practical, community-driven pathways to ensure the continuity and expansion of prevention options.
High-level, solution-oriented discussions are needed to shape a shared community-led vision for sustaining access to PrEP and other prevention services, ensuring that key populations across the region continue to benefit from equitable, rights-based and community-led HIV prevention.
This regional event, informed and co-created by APCOM regional community caucus, convenes community-led organisations, national governments, UN agencies and other stakeholders to address the urgencies, concerns and issues related to the scaling up of PrEP and other prevention options at the country level.
The summit also aims to strengthen engagement with policymakers, service providers, and development partners in the rollout of injectable PrEP. It aims to co-create a community blueprint for how organisations and networks can lead PrEP service delivery, policy advocacy, and accountability across the region.
This program will convene community leaders and national HIV programs from the following countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
APCOM Community Summit: PrEPARING Asia 2025 is a 3-day consultation that facilitates knowledge exchange and programmatic discussions on scaling up prevention options, including oral and injectable PrEP, at the country level. Specifically, this Summit will:
1. Reflect on Progress and Emerging Priorities for Scaling Up PrEP Take stock of current PrEP implementation across countries, including oral and injectable options. Identify what is working and what needs strengthening, and explore strategic actions to accelerate scale-up, integration, and readiness, especially in light of policy shifts, service disruptions, and evolving community needs.
2. Humanise Advocacy and Co-Create Community-Led Solutions Elevate lived experiences of PrEP users, providers, and advocates to shape inclusive, rights-based approaches. Promote collaborative processes that centre community voices in advocacy, service design and regional dialogue.
3. Facilitate Collective Reflection on the Sustainability of PrEP Services and Financing Create space for countries and communities to share experiences, challenges, and promising practices in sustaining PrEP services. Through dialogue and exchange, build a shared understanding of what is needed to ensure long-term service continuity, including financing mechanisms, policy alignment and community-led approaches, to inform future advocacy and planning.
AGENDA
| Day 1 – 05 November 2025 |
| 08.30 | Registration | |
| 09.00 | WELCOME! APCOM Community Summit 2025 | Midnight PoonkasetwattanaExecutive Director,APCOM Foundation |
| 09.30 | Session 1. ASIA PACIFIC LANDSCAPE OF HIV PREVENTION | |
| Why PrEP Matters: Regional Realities, Prevention Crisis, and the Need for Equitable Access to PrEP Options(10 mins) | Dr Khin Cho Win HtinRegional Support Team, Asia and the Pacific | |
| VDO The science and updates on Injectable PrEP(10 mins) | Michelle Rodolph, TBCWorld Health Organisation | |
| Preferences of Injectable PrEP among Key Populations in Different Asian Countries(10 mins) | Dr. Curtis ChanKirby Institute | |
| VDO Regional Priorities: Policy Environment and Cross-Cutting Issues (including other health conditions)(10 mins) | Dr Prasada Rao, TBCAPCOM HIV/AIDS Ambassador | |
| Q and A(20 mins) | ||
| 10.15 | Break | |
| 10.30 | Session 2. IN-COUNTRY FOCUS: National Programmes and PrEP Service Delivery | |
| In-Country Focus Viet Nam: Scaling up oral PrEP and integrating injectable PrEP in National HIV Programmes(10 mins) | Nguyen Thi Mai, TBC Deputy Head of HIV/AIDS and Addiction Treatment Department Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health, Viet Nam | |
| VDOIn-Country Focus Cambodia: Scaling up oral PrEP and integrating injectable PrEP in National HIV Programmes(10 mins) | Dr. Ngauv Bora National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDNCHADS, Cambodia | |
| Q and A(10 mins) | ||
| 11.00 | Session 3. Panel 1.Expanding Access to Oral and Injectable PrEP in Asiaand the Pacific | Moderator: Michela Polesana,UNAIDS RST AP |
| Policy gaps and needed programme efforts to expand access to oral and injectable PrEP, with emphasis on equitable access and sustainable services (10 mins) | Khin Cho Win Htin,UNAIDS RST AP | |
| Integration of PrEP into the national health package and subnational advocacy and resource mobilization for PrEP implementation (10 mins) | Dr. Rolando V. Cruz,Head, Epidemiologyand Surveillance | |
| Regulatory pathways and accelerated access to generic medicines for expanded PrEP availability | UNDP Bangkok RegionalHub or Country Rep | |
| Driving PrEP uptake through community-led innovation and stigma reduction | Doan Thanh TungThe LighthouseEnterpriseVietnam | |
| 12.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30 | Session 4. MAPPING WORKSHOP 1 (90 mins)Mapping PrEP Service Delivery PathwaysIdentify current PrEP service delivery models and access points.Surface community-led components and innovations.Highlight gaps, bottlenecks, and opportunities for strengthening. | Facilitator:Inad Quinones Rendon, Consultant at APCOM Co-Facilitator: Regional Community CaucusDoan Thanh Tung, TBC |
| Part 1. Community Mapping Exercise where participants map current PrEP service delivery from awareness to retention.Part 2. Spotlighting Community-led anchors. The participants identify which parts of the pathway must remain community-led.Part 3. Consolidating and prioritising. The participants identify the gaps, advocacy needs and investment needs. | ||
| 15.00 | Break | |
| 15.15 | Session 5. MAPPING WORKSHOP 2 (90 mins)Mapping Interruptions, Reprioritisation, and Integration Map disruptions to PrEP services due to funding cuts, integration, or policy shifts.Identify risks to community-led components.Strategise for resilience and advocacy. | Facilitator:Inad Quinones Rendon, Consultant at APCOM Co-Facilitator: Regional Community Caucus Doan Thanh Tung |
| Part 1. Disruption mapping. Participants map recent or expected interruptions across the PrEP pathway.Part 2. Safeguarding the community-led services and asserting what must remain community-led.Part 3. Strategic advocacy mapping. Participants identify advocacy entry points, including funders, government agencies, and national programs. | ||
| 16.45 | Summary and Wrap Up | |
| 17.15 | Close | |
| Optional Loy Krathong Celebration |
| Day 2 – 06 November 2025 |
| 08.30 | Registration | |
| 08:45 | Day 1 Recap and Introduction of Day 2 | |
| 09.00 | Keynote OpeningWhat do the studies on Injectable PrEP say? What are the anticipated challenges and promises of success? Did the studies explore different financing models?(10 mins) | Dr Chris Beyrer, TBC Duke Global Health Institute |
| 09.30 | Session 6. Panel 2. HUMANISING THE ADVOCACY | |
| Speaker 1 – Oral PrEP User | Tseveenravdan. Ts Gereg, TBC | |
| Speaker 2 – Injectable PrEP User | Luc Quach Binh Duong, TBC | |
| Speaker 3 – Service Provider for PrEP | Dr Bhaskar Das, TBC | |
| Speaker 4 – Hopes of using PrEP from a would-be user | Oliel Sulaiman, TBC | |
| Q and A(20 mins) | ||
| 10.20 | Break | |
| 10.30 | Session 7. Panel 3. FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS | |
| [VDO] Strategies and models of Financing PrEP towards long-term sustainability (10 mins) | Maria PhelanSenior Technical Advisor: Key Populations | |
| Domestic Financing and Innovative Mechanisms towards integrated health systems for effective scale-up of PrEP(10 mins) | Thailand, TBCNational Government / NHSO | |
| Affordability and Sustainability of PrEP: Roles of Global Health Financing Bodies(10 mins) | AVACMitchell Warren, TBC | |
| Investing towards Community-led Demand Creation, Awareness and Advocacy(10 mins) | Anna MacDonald, TBCElton John AIDS Foundation | |
| Q and A(20 mins) | ||
| 11.20 | Session 8. IN-COUNTRY FOCUS: PrEP Options and National Programmes | |
| In-Country Focus Malaysia: Scaling up oral PrEP and integrating injectable PrEP in National HIV Programmes(10 mins) | Wan Mohd Ikhtiaruddin, TBC Malaysian AIDS CouncilMalaysia | |
| In-Country Focus Thailand: Scaling up oral PrEP and integrating injectable PrEP in National HIV Programmes(10 mins) | Dr. Nittaya Phanuphak, TBCExecutive Director, IHRI | |
| In-Country Focus Indonesia: Scaling up oral PrEP and integrating injectable PrEP in National HIV Programmes(10 mins) | MOH Indonesia, TBC | |
| Q and A(20 mins) | ||
| 12.00 | Lunch | |
| 13.00 | Session 9.COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND COUNTRY READINESS | |
| Community Leadership in Translating Policy and Evidence in Advocacy for Oral and Injectable PrEP(10 mins) | Doan Thanh Tung, TBCThe Lighthouse EnterpriseVietnam | |
| Community Leadership in Research and Data Collection (10 mins) | Manisha Dhakalm, TBCBlue Diamond SocietyNepal | |
| Innovative community-led interventions in promoting and scaling up of injectable PrEP(10 mins) | Desi Andrew Ching, TBCHASHPhilippines | |
| Q and A(20 mins) | ||
| 14.00 | Session 11. Rountable 1.FUNDING AND INVESTMENTSHigh-level Discussions on challenges, gaps and commitments towards financing and sustaining PrEP services in Asia-Pacific | Facilitator: Elton John AIDS Foundation Co-Facilitator:Regional Community Caucus |
| 15.30 | Break | |
| 15.45 | Session 11. Roundtable 2.COMMUNITY-LED INTERVENTIONS, RESEARCH AND MONITORINGHigh-level Discussions on challenges, gaps and commitments towards ensuring community leadership in PrEP Programmes, including demand generation, service delivery, advocacy, research and CLM. | Facilitator: TBC Co-Facilitator:Regional Community CaucusAndrew, HASH |
| Day 3 – 07 November 2025 |
| 09.00 | Registration | |
| 09.15 | Day 2 Recap and Introduction of Day 3 | |
| 09.30 | Session 12. INNOVATIONS IN DEMAND GENERATION AND MARKET SHAPING | |
| Gay Dating Apps and PrEP Demand Generation(10 mins) | Grindr, TBC | |
| TestXXX and utilisation of digital and social media in raising awareness, creating demand, and producing actual conversations on prevention at the regional and country level(10 mins) | Numan Afifi APCOM Thailand | |
| Good Practice from community-led intervention (Title TBC)(10 mins) | Ifrani Nugraha, TBC GWL-INA, testJKT Indonesia | |
| Q and A | ||
| 10.20 | Break | |
| 10.30 | Session 13. IN-COUNTRY FOCUS: PrEP Options and National Programmes | |
| In-Country Focus Philippines: Gaps and Challenges in scaling up and administering oral and injectable PrEP(10 mins) | Dr. Rolando V. Cruz, TBCHead, Epidemiology and Surveillance, Quezon City Health Department | |
| In-Country Focus Papua New Guinea: Gaps and Challenges in scaling up and administering oral and injectable PrEP(10 mins) | Lesley Johnnie Bola, TBCExecutive DirectorKey Population Advocacy Consortium PNG | |
| In-Country Focus Nepal: Gaps and Challenges in scaling up and administering oral and injectable PrEP | Dr Sarbesh Sharma, TBCDirectorNational Centre for AIDS and STDs Control, Nepal | |
| In-Country Focus Mongolia: Gaps and Challenges in scaling up and administering oral and injectable PrEP | Dr Unenchimeg Puntsag, TBCChief of the HIV/AIDS care and treatment unit,National Centre for Communicable DiseasesMinistry of Health, Mongolia | |
| Q and A(10 mins) | ||
| 11.40 | Session 14Presentation of Proposed Asia-Pacific Prevention Fund | APCOMMidnight |
| 12.15 | Lunch | |
| 13.15 | Country Work planning | |
| 14.30 | Large Group Presentation | |
| 15.00 | Break | |
| 15.15 | Session 15. Roundtable 5.COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENTS AND ADVOCACYHigh-level discussion and drafting of regional commitments and community advocacy statements on PrEP implementation and scale-up | Regional Community CaucusManisha Dhaka, BDS |
| 16.30 | Wrap Up |
