AEGiS-WashBlade: Hurricane Rita prompts cancellation of HIV conference: Four-day event in Houston was expected to draw 3,000

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Hurricane Rita prompts cancellation of HIV conference: Four-day event in Houston was expected to draw 3,000

Washington Blade - September 29, 2005
Andrew Keegan

Although Houston escaped with relatively minor damage from Hurricane Rita last week, the nation's largest gathering of HIV/AIDS service providers took a direct hit.

The mandatory evacuation of Houston prior to the storm and subsequent shortage of food, fuel and power prompted the cancellation of the ninth annual U.S. Conference on AIDS, scheduled for Sept. 29 to Oct. 2.

Paul Kawata, executive director of the National Minority AIDS Council, announced the cancellation on Sept. 27. The conference will not be rescheduled.

"We do not know how quickly Houston will recover," Kawata said. "Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the 2005 USCA at a later date due to the lack of hotel and convention space in other cities. After Katrina, all the available space for a convention of our size was booked for meetings that had to be moved out of New Orleans."

The four-day event was expected to draw approximately 3,000 participants, including HIV/AIDS service providers and people with HIV.

Kawata expressed disappointment that the conference would be unable to follow through on plans to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, which damaged parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama when it came ashore Aug. 29.

"This year, the USCA was more critical than ever due to its updated agenda addressing the impact of Hurricane Katrina on HIV/AIDS organizations in devastated areas," he said. "We will keep our commitment and at a later date hold a small meeting so they can get together and plan the future."

As sponsor of the conference, the National Minority AIDS Council faces financial implications due to the cancellation. Kawata suggested that attendees allow pre-registration funds to go toward covering the cost of organizing the event, although refunds are available through the group's Washington D.C. office.

The 2006 conference is scheduled for Sept. 21-25 in Hollywood, Fla.

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