The Asia-Pacific region is at a critical point in its HIV response, states a UNAIDS report that shows a mix of successes and challenges over the past decade.

HIV in Asia and the Pacific: Getting to Zero, launched at the 2011 International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), found that more people than before had access to HIV services, but most countries in the region were still a long way from achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

"Some countries - including Thailand, Cambodia, India, Myanmar - reacted very quickly and put in place programs for specific populations at high risk of HIV, which led to behavior change," said Beth Mange-Watts, at the UNAIDS Thailand office.

According to the report, wider access to services that prevent new HIV infections among children had led to a 15 percent decrease in new HIV infections among children in the region since 2006; Malaysia and Thailand are on track to eliminate new HIV infections among children.

However, there are still nearly two new HIV infections for every person who starts treatment.

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