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HIV/AIDS experts unite at Durban conference
Liz Clarke. 07 June 2005. The Star. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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The cream of international and South African scientists will gather on Wednesday for the second ground-breaking HIV/AIDS Conference at Durban's International Convention Centre.
More than 1 000 delegates, many from overseas and other parts of Africa, are expected to attend the conference, which ends on Friday.
Among the key issues will be the evaluation of South Africa's anti-retroviral treatment rollout plan implemented last year, the emerging orphans of HIV/AIDS crisis and ways to address stigma and discrimination.
Professor Lynn Morris, chairperson of the four-day conference and head of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, said on Monday that the aim was to "marshal the best of knowledge, practice and research" on HIV and transform it into further united action and implementation.
Nobody is in any doubt, she said, that the critical need is to "spur a new spirit of unity and accountability" for all. "We might come from different classes, races and religions, different jobs or sectors, but we must be united in HIV prevention, treatment and support, united in accepting responsibility to deal with this epidemic."
It was also critical that the money entrusted to the various sectors dealing with HIV/AIDS was maximised to combat the epidemic, she said.
The conference promised to cover "exciting and far-reaching" new ground, which in her view should lead to a greater understanding of the challenges ahead. "We have achieved a substantial number of our goals," said Morris, "but there is still a lot more to be done to lessen the impact that HIV/AIDS is having on every person living in South Africa."
Under the spotlight will be a number of key questions including the number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths in the South African mortality statistics, whether children benefiting from the social security provisions are in need of cash or care, and what the state has done or should be doing on the right of access to medicines. |
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