The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Program's focus on increased connectivity, competitiveness and community clearly intersect with some of the key risk factors and features of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the subregion. Mobility and migration are heavily linked with the ongoing spread of HIV and AIDS, particularly in relation to infrastructure development, and thus cannot be overlooked.
More than 1.6 million of the GMS population of 320 million are believed to be living with HIV and AIDS. More than 125,000 have died from AIDS since the early 1990s. Nearly a quarter of those infected are women, and this proportion is growing.
Promoting and supporting increased connectivity and regional integration through significant infrastructure investments means that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) must also recognize and understand the social and economic dimensions of mobility, migration, and its increased vulnerability to the spread of HIV/AIDS. Given ADB's comparative advantage, it can take the lead in filling gaps in knowledge and expertise regarding HIV and infrastructure development.