Source: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?ID=3853_6241_685_8836_9655&From=HT
Tenth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) that recently concluded in Busan, Korea on August 30 was attended by several regional leaders, governments, global organizations, medical researchers, community organizations, activists. Theme of this year’s ICAAP was ‘Diverse Voices, United Action’.
During the 5-day congress, more than 2500 people from 64 countries discussed regional, national and local approaches aimed at combating the one of the biggest killers in the modern world. The region’s largest forum on HIV and AIDS has lived up to its mantra.
The conference kicked off with the AIDS Champions meeting at Nurimaru APEC House on Friday, 26 August. Participants of the meeting reaffirmed their call for the international community to ensure the response to the disease remains a joint effort and to maintain the momentum gained over the past few years.
Australia’s Ambassador for HIV, Murray Proctor, while speaking at the Champions Meeting, said that the world had made good progress but there is still much more that needs to be done.
“We have to broaden our understanding of how this challenge can be met and we have to reach out to the groups who find it difficult to endorse the actions we need to take,” Mr Proctor said.
Views of Mr. Proctor were also shared by other representatives in the Champions Meeting and they included UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, President of Fiji Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Young Soo Shun, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria Executive Director of External Relations Christoph Benn, and representatives from the Korean government and civil society.
“We need champions, we need leadership – it’s the only way we will have access to affordable medicines, the only way we will be able to reform discrimination,” Mr Sidibé said.
“Let’s accept that our collective effort is important and our solidarity is critical.”
Different sessions spanning over three days covered a range of key issues vital in the world’s struggle to meet Millennium Development Goal 6 – combating the spread of HIV and AIDS by 2015.
This year’s ICAAP had quite large representation from key affected populations, community groups and youth which is crucial to ensuring that their voices are heard and their experiences are shared.
More than 33 million people are currently living with HIV, and most of those affected are the ones who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, women and youth from key affected populations.
Australia has been seriously addressing this menace and in 2011-12 about $228 million are being invested on HIV and AIDS activities. More than $1 billion have been invested by Australia over the past decade.
Two largest programs that are currently underway are operating in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea – Australia’s two closest neighbors. Australia’s programs focus on HIV prevention, strengthening health systems, advocating for policy and legal reform and supporting people living with and affected by HIV.
Next edition of ICAAP i.e. eleventh congress will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2013.
