Background of the Association
Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS: APL+, A Network of people living with HIV/AIDS was established in 2003 under the umbrella of the Lao Red Cross with funding supported by the Australian Red Cross. Government registration was officially approved on June 28, 2012, by the Association of People Living with HIV/AIDs (APL+). As of 2022, APL+ has been working in all 18 provinces of Laos and has organized 12 self-help Groups (SHGS) in 12 provinces and Vientiane capital. The country is divided into three regions, in each region, there is one representative as a region coordinator.
1. Northern region: Xayabouly, Laungprabang, Udomxay, Laungnamtha, Borkeo, Houphan
2. Centre region: Vientiane capital, Vientiane province, Bolikhamxay,
3. Southern region; Khammouane, Savannakhet, Salavan, and Champasak.
APL + has a Governing board of 25 people who are all living with HIV, headed by a Chair and a deputy chair. It has a five-person administrative committee, headed by the chair and vice-chair. An Audit committee has two members; the secretariat has 13 staff and is headed by the executive director. Roughly 30% of the staff at the secretariat are PLHIV. APL+ developed a vision, mission, and values statement in 2020-21 as part of its Action Plan 2021-2025, and also outlined several goals, which form the base from which this new strategic plan is written.
