Eight prepare for July 22-27 HIV/AIDS conference in US

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday July 19th, 2012

By AGNES FIFI UKI
THE International AIDS conference in Washington DC, United States, from July 22-27 will look at advancing knowledge, creating and increasing evidence of informed HIV and AIDS strategies and programmes, Philip Tapo said yesterday.
Tapo, the National AIDS Council Secretariat acting director, made the comment in Port Moresby while briefing the eight Papua New Guinea participants who will attend the forum.
“The conference has 16 objectives that will have a positive impact on the HIV and AIDS response globally and PNG, in particular,” he said. 
The eight local participants include four from the National AIDS Council Secretariat, three from the PNG-Australia Health and HIV Programme (Sanap Wantaim), and one from the United Nations Development Programme.
Tapo said the selection of participants was done on merit.
He told them it was not a joy ride and they would have to submit a detailed report to the secretariat about the conference on their return.
“With the theme of the conference “Turning the Tide Together” simply refers to a unique movement in ending the HIV epidemic and an urgent call to every stakeholder, partner and donor in HIV and AIDS response to play their part critically,” he said
“Through this conference certain issues will be discussed, discoveries from latest research and way forward for an improvement in networking and communication in terms of strengthening the global dialogue on HIV issues.”
Tapo said the conference came every second year and those who wished to attend the next one in 2014 should lodge applications stating how they are contributing to the fight against the epidemic.
Of the eight PNG participants, five are funded by the government through the secretariat, while three are funded by donor partners.