Mennonite
Central
Committee

International AIDS Conference

Sarah Adams
August 22, 2006

More than 25,000 people gathered in Toronto last week for the XVI International AIDS Conference. The conference, held every two years, is the world's largest gathering of people working on HIV/AIDS issues.

During the week prior to the main conference, a two day Ecumenical Pre-Conference was held. Christians from around the world gathered to share ideas and encourage each other in the struggle against AIDS. Special speakers included Canon Gideon Byamugisha, the first African priest to openly share his HIV status, Pastor Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life", and Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS.

As part of the Ecumenical Conference, Mennonite Central Committee presented a workshop on the role of pastors and church leaders in the AIDS pandemic. Workshop participants from around the world shared stories about their struggles to involve pastors in the fight against AIDS and then shared strategies for addressing these challenges.

The official opening of the International AIDS Conference included Canadian government officials, business leaders, actors, and musicians. As the week began, workshops and plenary sessions included input from Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Stephen Lewis, and actor Richard Gere.

"Time to Deliver"

The theme for this year's conference was "Time to Deliver". The time for the global community to deliver on its promises is now. The crisis requires action now. The UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, put it very simply, "Every minute lost in the struggle against the virus is a life lost." Actually, every minute lost is 5 lives lost and 9 new lives infected. AIDS is an on-going emergency, a chronic tragedy that continues to kill 8,500 people each day.

The conference included no lack of learning opportunities. The program of activities was 487 pages long. At any given time, there were 25 different sessions to choose from, as well as exhibitions, video showings, and demonstrations.

New means of reducing the spread

While all still under trial, there emerged three potential new means of reducing the spread of the virus. The first is a microbicide, a vaginal gel or cream that a woman can apply to reduce HIV transmission during sexual intercourse. Even a woman who has been faithful in marriage and who fully understands the risk of HIV infection can lack the power to require her husband to use a condom. If the development of microbicides proves successful, it will put the power of HIV protection in a woman's hands.

Another potential means of reducing HIV transmission is through male circumcision. Initial studies in South Africa and Kenya have shown significantly reduced rates of HIV infection among men who were circumcised.

Pre-exposure prophylaxes were a third idea introduced. For years, post-exposure prophylaxes have been used to successfully reduce HIV transmission in cases such as rape or exposure to the virus in a medical setting. New research is showing the potential for these types of drugs prior to exposure for people that may be at high risk of contracting HIV. The concept is similar to that of taking a malarial prophylactic while visiting a malarial zone.

Recognizing existing barriers

Along with hopeful new research and solutions came a recognition of barriers that have stopped the world from successfully addressing the AIDS crisis. The role poverty plays in the global crisis was a common theme. All over the world, global economic systems force men to leave their families for months at a time and work as migrant laborers in areas far from home.

Women, dependent solely on men for their income and survival in many places, are forced into situations where their health and well-being are compromised.

Many people, especially those sick because of AIDS, lack the ability to feed themselves properly. Food insecurity is a major reason AIDS continues to make people so sick, and without sufficient food, even those on life-prolonging ARV medication are not able to receive the full benefit of the drugs.

Marginalized groups were also vocal about the often hidden epidemic here in North America. The U.S.-based Black AIDS Institute hosted discussions and marches highlighting the need to do more to address HIV/AIDS in the black community in the United States. African-American women accounted for 67% of all new infections in the U.S. in 2004. Aboriginal groups from Canada were also vocal about the AIDS crisis among First Nations people, where infection rates have increased by 500 percent over the last 20 years, while the national Canadian average has decreased by 24 percent in the same time period.

Immediate action

As the week came to a close, organizers and participants called on governments, drug companies, churches, foundations, research institutions, individuals, and others to act immediately to prevent the further spread of the disease. Only through a timely, significant, and coordinated effort will significant progress be realized in the fight against AIDS.

 

Sarah Adams is the MCC HIV/AIDS coordinator.

 

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