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Great Expectations in International AIDS Conference
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"As we gather in Mexico, each of us must ask ourselves: What can I do to end AIDS? In 2008, there are no longer bystanders in this global struggle," said Dr. Pedro Cahn. |
The XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) opened Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico, with scientists, community and political leaders urging resolute action and commitment on the part of all stakeholders.
In 2005, world leaders passed a resolution through the UN committed to providing universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support to all those in need by 2010.
"Though this may go without saying, with just two years to go before 2010, there will be a great deal of discussion about where we are today with regard to the rollout of prevention, treatment, care and support, and what will be needed to accelerate the pace of scale up,” said AIDS 2008 International Co-Chair Dr. Pedro Cahn, President of the International AIDS Society (IAS).
"What we now need is action on the part of all stakeholders. As we gather in Mexico, each of us must ask ourselves: What can I do to end AIDS? In 2008, there are no longer bystanders in this global struggle," he added.
The organizers received more than 10,500 abstract submissions for this year's conference. Nearly 5,000 of these were selected for presentation either as oral sessions or poster exhibits. "Every day, there will be more than a 1,000 poster sessions," said Cahn.
The conference comes at a critical time, after the failure of one of the most ambitious trials to find a vaccine for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Many of the panels and sessions will discuss the future of finding a vaccine that may finally halt the pandemic. There will also be sessions discussing claims by some critics that AIDS is getting too much money which is harming the healthcare system rather than helping.
There will also be special focus on other methods of preventive medicine. "The importance of developing a safe and effective biological prevention tool to prevent new HIV infections cannot be understated," stressed Cahn. Besides sessions about vaccine and microbicides research, there will be several discussions of male circumcision as a preventive tool and how it can be implemented, especially on countries in the developing world.
"Prevention of new infections should be our number one priority, our number two priority, and number three priority," said Festus Gontebanye, former president of Botswana, during the opening ceremony.
In addition to the scientific program, the conference will also focus on other issues such as leadership and community components. About 1,000 youth delegates are expected to appear in Mexico City. "Young people have been actively involved in planning a number of sessions and activities," explained Cahn.
AIDS 2008 will also feature the Global Village, like the past two international conferences. The Global Village will be a center of community activity and action. It will feature a marketplace, information booths and workshops focusing on a wide range of topics. It will also feature the Cultural Programme which aims to bring different cultures together.
According to Cahn, the Global Village will be open all week to the general public. "We expect to welcome an estimated 9,000 local residents of Mexico City."
The conference is expected to draw an estimated 22,000 participants from scientists, researchers, media and non-governmental organizations. There are delegates from nearly every country in the world.
"HIV is probably the most complex, … and possibly the most devastating disease that humanity has ever faced," said Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). "The epidemic is far from over and we will be in this for the long haul."
Since the discovery of HIV over 25 years ago, more than 25 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. An estimated 33 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS, with two thirds of those in sub-Saharan Africa.
Though the number of new infections around the globe have been decreasing in the past few years, more than 6,800 people are infected every day.
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Mohammed Yahia is an editor in the Health & Science section at IslamOnline.net. He has a degree in pharmacology from Cairo University, Egypt. You can contact him by sending an e-mail to ScienceTech@islam-online.net
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