Albion St Centre wins UN award

Sydney’s Albion Street Centre has received the United Nations 2011 Partnership Award for a Development Program for its work with the collaborative Lao People’s Democratic Republic Thailand Australian Collaboration in HIV Nutrition (Lao-TACHIN) Project.

The Lao-TACHIN Project is being implemented by the Albion Street Centre’s International Health Services team with funding from the Australian federal Government, the Thai royal family, NSW Health and the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.

The Lao-TACHIN Project started in 2008 as a collaborative project between developed and developing nations. It aims to develop the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre’s capacity to implement effective international development projects in the area of HIV treatment, care and support.

The project emphasises nutrition and improving the health and quality of life of people living with HIV in Champasak Province in Laos.

Albion Street Centre director Professor Julian Gold said the partnership drew on the centre’s experience in international public health and HIV technical capacity.

”The Albion Street Centre has more than 15 years experience in establishing dynamic and productive partnerships with organisations in Thailand and throughout the South-East Asian region,” Gold said.

“As a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building and Health Care Worker Training in HIV Care, Treatment and Support, the Albion Street Centre prides itself on implementing cutting-edge development assistance to its international partners. This award is certainly testament to its success.”

The Lao-TACHIN Project will be completed in 2012 and is a component of AusAID’s Regional Capacity Building Program for 2008-2012.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the United Nations global development network and advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

The UNDP Award is given to an institution, group or project which has made significant contributions to human development in the developing world by providing solutions to address the challenges in the areas of climate change, environmental damage, food security or global health.