AIDS 2008 - XVII INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE (MEXICO) - 1

(From the official press release of AIDS 2008)

5 August 2008 - The International AIDS Conference is convened every other year by the International AIDS Society (IAS), the world’s leading independent association of HIV professionals with more than 10,000 members from 172 countries. International institutional partners for AIDS 2008 include: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and its co-sponsors, the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP); International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO); Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) / International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW); World YWCA; and the Asian Harm Reduction Network (AHRN). This year’ conference is hosted by Mexico City and runs from 3rd to 8th August.

The Conference (AIDS 2008) began with an assessment of the state of the global epidemic as a panel of researchers, public health and civil society leaders examined recent progress toward the scale up of treatment and prevention programs, and called for sustained action to eliminate the barriers to universal access. Progress has doubtless been made in getting universal access but the targets are still a long way off. It is necessary for all nations to live up to their commitments.

“With only two years to go until the 2010 deadline for universal access set by world leaders, we must redouble our commitment to scaling up all proven HIV prevention strategies,” said Dr. Luís Soto Ramírez, Local Co-Chair of AIDS 2008 and Coordinator of the Clinical Care Committee of Mexico’s National AIDS Council.

On Monday, the conference’s opening plenary featured presentations by leading global experts on epidemiological aspects of the epidemic, recent advancements and challenges.

Dr. Geoffrey Garnett (United Kingdom) noted the need for new methods of analyzing HIV prevalence and risks of infection which can help targeted prevention strategies. Regarding the analyses of risk behavior, he illustrated the importance of including social and structural determinants of HIV risk, along with behavioral and biological risk factors. According to Garnett, the powerful synergy of awareness and single effective interventions such as male circumcision could dramatically reduce HIV prevalence rates and facilitate the greater impact of other interventions altering the future spread of HIV.

In another intervention, Dr. Jaime Sepulveda (Mexico) noted that attention to and resources for AIDS are at all-time highs, but the world has only scratched the surface of possibilities in responding to the epidemic. Greater resources, more effectively spent and targeted where they can have the greatest effect, would have a dramatic impact on the epidemic’s course. Sepulveda called for radically increased investments in prevention research, evaluation, and delivery of services, as well as accelerated research on promising prevention methods, including a vaccine.

Sepulveda’s views were reiterated by Alex Coutinho (Uganda), who called for greater political leadership from all countries and accountability at all levels as essential for stopping the epidemic. Citing the results in both treatment and prevention scale up in countries with sustained leadership, such as Rwanda and Tanzania, he made a passionate call for dynamic leadership as a path toward meeting the challenges ahead. He also urged outreach to and support of marginalized and at-risk communities, as well as the greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) as a catalyst for change.

Elisabet Fadul (Dominican Republic) outlined a broad and urgent youth HIV/AIDS agenda, with comprehensive rights-based and evidence-based plans to provide access for young people. Highlighting the data that young people (15-24 years of age) account for 40% of new infections worldwide, she noted that HIV prevention and treatment programs are failing to effectively reach young people. The most vulnerable and marginalized are stigmatized, criminalized or forgotten by many of these programs. To reverse this course, she called for actions and policies that engage youth, especially young PLHIV, as respected partners in developing and implementing programs that address their needs and diversity.

HIV/AIDS - CLEANING UP OUR LANGUAGE

The buzz is all about "AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference" running from 3-8 August 2008 at Mexico City. So here are a couple of posts on this conference. Let me begin with a post providing the link to a crucial document. It is entitled: UNESCO Guidelines on Language and Content in HIV and AIDS-Related Materials. This is a useful tool to consult for anyone dealing with the topic. Its principal concern is helping people to use the right terminology on issues connected with HIV/AIDS.

"The words we use reflect our understanding and influence our response. The complexity and sensitivities that surround HIV and AIDS make it all the more important to reflect on the words we use and choose them with care."

So if you have some time on your hands - open and read this document. I am sure it will open your mind not just to speak right but also to think right.

The person using compassionate words will sooner or later become more compassionate. Let us hope that the conference becomes the launching pad for many ventures that will help "Make HIV/AIDS History".

REMEMBERING THE CURE OF ARS

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. John Mary Vianney - popularly called the Cure of Ars. It brought to mind my visit to Ars - a beautiful town in southern France. Here is a picture of the confessional in which he spent many hours reconciling his flock to God and to one another.

And here is a picture of his relics lying in the Church. There is the odour of sanctity in the entire area. He who was not "seminary topper" gave to many an example of dedicated ministry to the 'lost sheep' in his own inimitable way.

Please whisper a prayer for all those in pastoral ministry and for yours truly.

PARENTING THE ‘RIGHT WAY’

BIS - Bosco Information Service Mumbai: BIS # 1035 PARENTING THE ‘RIGHT WAY’

FAME IN THE FAMILY

This concerns my niece, Simran seen here in the picture.

It has been published in the North East England Young Writers book out last month. We didn’t know until Simran came home with a note from her school teacher. Hope that she keeps it up no matter what she does in the future.

SWAN'S LAW

He lay his crystal-blue eyes on the swirling dark lake .
He lifted his magnificent head and soared up into the black of the midnight sky.

The darkness coiled around him and the air grew thick and dry, but the beautiful beast feared nothing as was Royal Swan’s Law.

(By Simran Lajmi – Year 7 – Central Newcastle High School , Newcastle upon Tyne , United Kingdom)

MY PARENTS

Here is a picture of my dad and mum with their youngest daughter - my baby sister Glo. They keep well and are in good spirits...God is great!

HAPPY PARENT'S DAY

It's parents day in our part of the planet. Along with the flowers and the cards to make our parents feel special we had a session to guide them on "Parenting the Right Way"...It ended with this poem which I find so meaningful. So here it is...and before I close...."Happy Parent's Day" to my darling mum and dad and to all the parents I have encountered in my life...We are so proud of all that you guys are doing to make our world the dwelling place of lovely children...

IF I HAD MY CHILD TO RAISE AGAIN...

If I had my child to raise over again I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more and point fingers less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.

Diane Looman "Full esteem ahead"