PRNewswire - September 5, 2001

The goal of this important conference is to identify and assess the resource gaps to accentuate HIV/AIDS care, prevention and support within the Great Lakes Region, which includes countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia and Eritrea.

Despite significant progress the world has witnessed in life-saving treatment advances, the vast majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world still do not have access to appropriate care and support.

The lack of adequate and sustainable financing has long been identified as a key barrier impeding access to the provision of care and support.

Importantly, the precise resources necessary for mounting an effective prevention and treatment program for most African countries require determination. It is only through comprehensive assessment of the resource gaps that nations and donors can best plan appropriate funding and program implementation strategies in the region.

"For us in the poor developing countries, which are also the worse affected by AIDS, the epidemic leads to severe loss of productive labor, valuable expertise and long earned experiences," said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. "Access to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support, especially for people living with HIV/AIDS in workplaces is, therefore, critical."

"With effective HIV/AIDS social marketing, widespread availability of condoms, and strong political will, Uganda has shown the world that significant and sustainable reduction of HIV infection can be achieved," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

"The daunting challenge of confronting this epidemic is still with us," said Dr. Dickson Opul, Chair of Conference Organizing Committee. "Fear and flight has no place in the presence of a silently persistent and aggressive adversary."

"AHF Global Immunity is honored to join forces with leaders from the Great Lakes Region to formulate an action plan in Entebbe to implement appropriate and relevant care and support services to those living with HIV/AIDS," said HENRY E. CHANG, Executive Director, AHF Global Immunity.

"CHAIN is convinced that it is everyone's human right to have access to basic care, in this case adequate antiretroviral treatment," said William Babumba, Chair of CHAIN. "This conference is an opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss how to make this happen in the Great Lakes Region."

The Conference will address critical issues within the contextual framework defined by the International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa (IPAA). Priority areas include: 1.) Increased access to HIV/AIDS prevention/intervention; 2.) provision of appropriate care to persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS; 3.) expanded and decentralized response to the epidemic; and 4.) increased financial, technical and political resource investments.

AHF Global Immunity -- AHF Global Immunity is a non-profit, international initiative of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest HIV/AIDS specialty medical provider in the United States. Established in 1987, AHF now serves over 11,000 HIV positive patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay in California, Florida and New York. AHF operates thirteen out-patient community-based primary care clinics and one sub-acute in-patient care facility.

Community Health And Information Network (CHAIN) -- CHAIN was founded in 1998 after the Geneva World AIDS Conference by a group of African professionals working and leaving in Europe particularly UK. The theme of the Geneva conference "bridging the gap between the North & South" made us convinced and determined that as African nationals we had a significant part we could play in helping our colleagues address HIV issues on the African continent. CHAIN is now a registered charity in the UK and runs both national and international HIV/AIDS health programs focusing mainly on capacity building and we work in partnership with grass root NGOs operating in Africa. Partnership is the key to the success of our programs.

Since inception, we have run workshops, seminars and HIV treatment community symposiums during international conferences. These symposiums focus on bringing together all the relevant stake holders and address current HIV issues taking place in respective countries.

Ugandan Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (UBC) -- UBC-HIV/AIDS is legally registered not for profit non-governmental service organization formed to assist in the planning, coordination, advocating and promotion of relevant HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs in the private/business sector.

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation

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