NAPWA

A major national conference of people living with HIV/AIDS has commenced in Adelaide today.

“With all the talk in the media of the ‘medical miracle’ of a British man supposedly cured of HIV infection, it’s easy to lose sight of the miracles that people living with HIV/AIDS experience every day,” said Ms Gabe McCarthy, President of the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA), the organiser of the conference.

“Despite continuing stigma, discrimination and incredible medical challenges, Australian people are living with HIV/AIDS longer and better than ever before, contributing to society and playing their part to end the AIDS epidemic in Australia and overseas,” she said.

Over two-and-a-half days, close to 300 people, the majority of them living with HIV/AIDS, will meet at the University of Adelaide from today until Sunday afternoon. Highlights of the conference will include:

• an address by Ian Grubb, an Australian expatriate working with the World Health Organisation on the rollout of antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. treatment in developing countries (9.30 am Saturday 19 Nov);
• an address by Professor Chris Baggoley, Executive Director Public Health & ClinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. Coordination, SA Department of Health, representing the state health minister (9.30 am Saturday 19 Nov);
• the launch of the Declaration of Rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS, a landmark document asserting the legal and ethical rights of HIV-positive people, by eminent barrister David Buchanan SC (6.30 pm Friday 18 Nov);
• the release of new data showing that, with HIV-positive people living longer, attitudes of aged care facilities have improved (10.30 am Saturday 19 Nov).

“Positive people would love nothing more than for news of a supposed ‘cure’ to be confirmed,” McCarthy said. “But while we await that confirmation, we are meeting in Adelaide this weekend to celebrate the miracle of our own survival.”