PRNewswire - November 21, 2001

"This represents a one-of-a kind opportunity to network and share ideas between neighboring countries on how best to serve and work on behalf of everyone that is living with HIV or AIDS," said NMAC Executive Director Paul Akio Kawata. "With the pandemic now in its third decade, we have to make every effort to collaborate with other nations in promoting HIV/AIDS education, including treatment."

The North American conference will feature several "firsts." This is the first time that the treatment conference has been held outside the United States, and for the first time, representatives of AIDS organizations in Eastern Europe will be at the conference in Vancouver to add their unique perspectives.

"We will have a delegation attending the conference representing Russia, Moldova, Poland, Yugoslavia and the Ukraine," continued Kawata. "NATAF will be an excellent opportunity for us to hear first hand the state of the fight against HIV/AIDS in those countries, as well as for them to see what is being done in North America."

NATAF is designed to educate individuals interested in becoming HIV/AIDS advocates and educators; to enhance their skills and knowledge; and to develop inclusive, national strategies to ensure the continuity and success of the treatment advocacy movement.

NATAF 2001 is highlighted by 40 educational workshops over three days. The scheduled workshops will cover topics such as access to care and treatment for HIV positive immigrants in the U.S. and Canada, researching your own HIV treatment, how government policies affect care and treatment, skills building for community leaders, preventive and therapeutic vaccines and microbicides, nutrition as therapy, and U.S. and Canada healthcare reform and coverage.

Now in its sixth year, NATAF is co-sponsored this year by the following organizations: African American AIDS Policy and Training Institute, AIDS Project Los Angeles, African American AIDS Policy and Training Institute, American Foundation for AIDS Research, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, British Columbia Persons With AIDS Society, Canadian AIDS Society, Canadian Treatment Advocates Council, Community Research Initiative on AIDS, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, Project Inform and Treatment Action Group.

"As part of our mission, it's imperative that we take advantage of this time to transcend borders in providing training and direction to treatment- related issues for communities of color, not just nationally, but globally," said Kawata.

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) was founded in 1987 to develop leadership within communities of color to address challenges of HIV/AIDS. NMAC has responded to the needs of communities of color by developing programs aimed at enhancing the skills necessary to confront this health crisis, including a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program and numerous publications. Today, NMAC is an association of more than 3,000 AIDS service providing organizations, hospitals, clinics and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the AIDS epidemic.

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