Time to Deliver: AIDS Conference in Toronto Ends With Call to Action!

August 21, 2006—Organizers of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto chose the theme "Time to Deliver" to urge the international community to act in the fight against AIDS. The theme resonated throughout the sessions last week, but what did the conference actually deliver?

The conference emphasized one thing clearly: the need to focus on both treatment and prevention. The first case of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was reported 25 years ago, but HIV is still spreading (4.1 million new infections last year), and there is no vaccine available. In spite of well known prevention methods, studies show that most people in need lack awareness and access to prevention.

Another important goal in the fight against HIV is giving health workers the means to help their own communities. Low wages in developing countries often force skilled health workers to leave for Europe or the United States where salaries are higher. Worse, many health workers die of AIDS because even they don't have access to treatment.

HIV-infected babies are born everyday, in spite of the fact that drugs exist to prevent their mothers from transmitting the infection. Especially in developing countries, few of these women have access to the treatment. Studies show that if an HIV-positive pregnant woman takes these drugs, delivers through a cesarean section, and doesn't breastfeed her child, she will not transmit the virus.

AIDS will keep spreading unless women are given the means to fight this disease. They need access to microbicides—a gel still being developed which women can apply topically before having sex to protect themselves. Often, women are not able to negotiate safe sex. In some countries, women don't have the right to own property and inherit if their husband dies. So, they have to find other ways to feed their children, and too often they become sex workers and contract HIV.

Scientists at the conference presented the latest findings in treatments and the search for a vaccine. They are also looking into improving drugs for children. Medicines are engineered for adults, and doctors don't always know which dosage is right for children. In addition, many children don't know their status. The earlier HIV is detected the faster they can be treated.

Youth organizations were active at the conference, which had an official youth website. MTV gave 8 teams of 7 young people 48 hours to produce a short film about AIDS. The films addressed issues such as getting tested, violence at home, sugar daddies, talking with parents, and myths. The winning film showed the devastating effects of stigma on a young girl seen leaving an HIV clinic.

The Global Village hosted a series of discussions on a variety of subjects including how to reach youth. A musical performance addressed the issue of when to start having sex. Young activists from Ukraine and Ethiopia presented their work to inform and support young people.

Colleen Patterson, speaking for youth at the closing ceremony, said the Youth Pavilion was the most visited booth at the Global Village and a record 10,000 young people attended the conference. However, she added that marginalized youth groups needed more representation, such as injected-drug users, sex workers, indigenous, and transgender people.

At the closing session, there was a sense of urgency as well as demand for long-term financing, accountability, and better leadership and coordination. The vaccine is at least ten years away, and in the meantime prevention is essential, and people living with HIV need access to anti-retroviral treatment.

The main message of the conference may be that in spite of much progress over the last 25 years, there is no room for complacency. It is time to deliver! There are almost 40 million people living with HIV in the world today.

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