Community Aspects
March 1998 Update

1. SOME NOTES ON ACCESS TO TREATMENT

Many questions have been asked as to the place that an issue such as Access to Treatment will have in the upcoming Conference. Although much of the programme for the 12th World AIDS Conference is still in construction, it is clear that "Access to treatment" will be one of the most important themes and issues of the Conference. It was a clear indication, for example, in Vancouver (as illustrated, for example in the outcomes of the Community Forum) that the next step to the optimism of the new therapies is access to them. It is, amongst others, the reason that the Conference theme was chosen as "Bridging the Gap".

In terms of the "scientific aspects" of the Conference, it is to be assumed that access to treatment will be addressed extensively. As it stands there are still 66 sessions of abstract-driven sessions to be decided in the future. One must assume that many of these will touch on issues related to treatment in resource-poor settings as well as related issues. In the Track Symposia and Bridging Sessions (that are presently being organised), there are whole sessions as well as several individual talks planned which deal with access issues directly.

The specific sessions include a bridging session on implications of therapies for the south and a track symposium on HIV policy in the context of limited resources. In addition, other sessions include speakers on topics such as OIs in the South, ARTs (Anti-Retroviral Treatments) in Resource-Poor Settings, Management of HIV Infection in Children in Resource-Poor Settings, Clinical Trial Design Policy in the South, compliance issues in developing country cultures, vaccine trials and implications, and in a session on the politics of AIDS, possible case studies on India and Russia.

The opening ceremony will most likely have one keynote speaker. It is intended that this person will be from the South and will, we assume, at least address access to treatment in their own country. The first day of plenaries will include a talk on vaccines (which again will include what this means to the South). The third day will have several talks on treatment. One will address what this means to the person living with HIV and one, as you know, will be very specifically on Access to Treatment. The final day, on Consequences of the Epidemic, will include talks on Personal to Global Survival from the perspective of TWO persons living with HIV from the developing world and one on Priorities for Public Funding (again which will touch on the issue by two persons from the South).

In terms of the "Community Aspects" of the Conference, there will be an evening session on Treatment Access (by the South, for the South), in addition to a session on alternative and traditional therapies. There are other related things in options for the CRV (Community Rendez-Vous) such as a session on teaching people more about treatment and basic science issues and language.

In the plans of the Skills Building (although these are still very tentative), there are several courses related to treatment issues in resource-poor settings, understanding vaccines including therapeutic vaccines, as well as things that relate to advocacy including how to influence decision makers.

At this moment, we might be leaving out some of the many things that might touch on Access to Treatment issues. As you know, there are about 25 things going on at any one moment in such a Conference.

2. SOME FIGURES & STATISTICS

As of February 25, there were 4 059 paid registrations to the 12^th World AIDS Conference.

As of February 27, a total of 7 298 abstracts had been submitted for presentations at the 12^th World AIDS Conference.

3653 scholarship applications were received by the deadline. They will all be processed and evaluated before final selection is made in early April. A quick snapshot of the applicant pool follows:

6 regions and 147 countries are represented

Of the total applicant pool, 46% are women, 54% are men

Of the 3653 applicants,

Despite the size of the Scholarship Fund, the demand for scholarships is overwhelming. The Conference will be able to assist less than a third of the approximately 3600 applicants. The Scholarship Programme will be allocating 1000 registrations and will supplement approximately 700 of these with full or partial funding to cover travel, accommodation, and per diems. Successful applicants will be notified in April.

3. NEEDED: SKILLS BUILDING FACILITATORS!

We are still in need of skills building facilitators for a few of our topic areas. Skills building sessions are targeted toward delegates from the South, and focus on practical tools to use when delegates return to their communities.

Currently 44 sessions are planned and fall into 5 broad areas:

• developing/implementing prevention strategies,
• programme and organisational development,
• care and treatment of HIV,
• policy and advocacy,
• information and communications technology.

People you suggest should have the following characteristics:

• Excellent training/group facilitation skills
• From or with experience in the South, experience working in resource poor settings
• Have own means of attending the Conference (or are successful Scholarship candidates)
• English speaking except where indicated
• Accessible on e-mail for workshop planning purposes, if possible

If you have ideas for any of the following sessions, names and contact details (e-mail, fax, and/or phone) should be forwarded urgently to Mary Myaya, Skills Building Co-ordinator

4. MESSAGE ON REGISTRATION POLICY

As we fast approach the upcoming World AIDS Conference, many questions circulate around the globe about registration for the Conference. Who is going? Who is invited? Who pays? Does anyone get free registration?

The 12th World AIDS Conference draws together scientists, clinicians, academics, persons involved in care, in prevention, in AIDS activism, and persons living with HIV from around the globe. They come together to discuss the latest understandings in basic science, in treatment and care, in public health, in prevention, in the extent of the pandemic, in social and behavioural science and in community responses to AIDS.

The Scholarship programme provides for 1,000 free registrations. Over 3,500 applications were received as of the due date in February and are presently being considered by the Scholarship unit. Those who receive scholarships will be notified in April.

We are fortunate in having over 3000 persons taking part in the programme. Unfortunately, because of the costs of holding such an event, we are unable to provide support for those taking part in the programme. Except for those working for the Conference, those who receive scholarships and a small number of invited guests, conference policy and financing does not allow for so-called free registrations. Conference registration accounts for over 50% of the Conference budget. There are, at present, no other possibilities for free registration. Persons wishing to attend the Conference are encouraged to look for funding from alternative sources.

Because of the demand for registrations and the limited number of hotel spaces in the area, persons interested in attending the Conference are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Note that hotels in cities in the vicinity of Geneva will be easily accessible to the Conference site by excellent train and bus service. Persons interested in registering should access our registration page.

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