The INFO Project Blog

So… first I promised to post some pictures from yesterday.  Here are some:

Panel from Monday presentation “Linking Sexual and Reproductive Health”  (L to R) Feliclity Daly, Interact Worldwide, Suni Nanda, International AIDS Alliance, India, Malcolm McNeil, DFID, Fiona Petit, International Community of Women Living with AIDS

Part of Panel from “Meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of People Living with HIV”, Sunday August 4

Rose Wilcher, Family Health International, “Contraception - the best kept secret in HIV prevention”,  panel discussion “Meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of People Living with HIV”, Sunday August 4, 2008

I first attended a fabulous lecture entitled “Responding to the  HIV Epidemic among Men Who Have Sex with Men”.  During this session, our friends at PSI discussed an excellent program they are currently supporting in Togo designed to create community among MSM, provide HIV prevention education and appropriate referral of services.

Following, I was fortunate to hear former President Bill Clinton speak about his foundation.  Bill Clinton compared AIDS to a dragon stating that “AIDS is a very big dragon… we cannot end until the dragon is slain.” The title of President Clinton’s talk was “HIV and Health Systems Reform: Achieving Universal Access.”  He gave examples of his work and emphasized that successful HIV interventions will naturally positively influence health systems of countries.  In Malawi, there is limited lab capability so the Clinton Foundation recruited lab workers and focused on increasing lab capacity, which in turn strengthened the health system.  In Zambia, with the advent of ART, there has been an increased demand for health services, but workers were in short supply.  So, the foundation has worked with the government to increase the supply and train workers, which again strengthened the health system while providing access to treatment. Read the rest of this entry »

So I first must apologize for the lack of actual photos in this first blog piece.  You see, there were strict security requirements to enter the opening ceremony.  The opening ceremony was in a separate spot from the convention in order to accommodate the 25,000 delegates.  All of my bags had to be left at the convention center.  All buses returned to the hotels after the opening and thus my bags are still at the convention center with pictures from today’s sessions.  I also didn’t get any pictures of the amazing opening, due to the fact they lead us to believe we weren’t able to carry anything in.

I think I’ll describe the opening since it’s fresh in my mind and then move on to the two integration sessions I attended.  After several entertaining pieces by the Ballet Folklorico, the speakers began.  One of the notable speakers included Peter Piot, Executive Director of of UNAIDS, who told delegates to “get up, stand up, don’t give up your fight.” In line with Mr. Marley, Dr. Piot told delegates to never give up their fight against HIV/AIDS.  Dr. Margaret Chan, Secretary General of the World Health Organization,  Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations and Mexican President Felipe Calderon all stressed the need to combat stigma, homophobia, and discrimination to fight HIV/AIDS  and to ensure that vulnerable populations including sex workers, men who have sex with men and IDUs are targeted in prevention efforts and receive necessary services. President Calderon also announced that he would allow other countries to introduce anti-retroviral medications into Mexico, drastically lowering the price of such drugs.  His commitment received much applause.

The theme ”Universal Action Now/Acción Universal !Ya!” was also echoed by all of the speakers, including Mony Pen, a Cambodian activist, the former President of Botswana Mr. Festus Mogae and the 12 year old Honduran activist who received a standing ovation, Keren-Dunway Gonzalez.  Citizens and civil society must pressure their governments to take greater action to ensure that all people have access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services. Read the rest of this entry »