AFRO-NETS> 2nd Forum on HIV/AIDS/STI in Latin America and the Caribbean

["Dr. Marcio Ulises Estrada Paneque" <mestrada@child.grm.sld.cu>]

2nd Forum on HIV/AIDS/STI in Latin America and the Caribbean
------------------------------------------------------------

7-12 April, 2003
Havana, Cuba
"Knowledge, Experience, Alliance: Strategy for the Future"

A brief report: News and considerations.

Dr. Marcio Ulises Estrada Paneque
Granma Medical University, Cuba
mailto:mestrada@child.grm.sld.cu

Exchange Objectives:
* To offer information about a relevant HIV/AIDS scientific Forum in 
  Latin America and Caribbean.
* To promote the scientific journalism exchange between Latin America
  and another world areas through the global AIDS net:
  http://www.foro2003.sld.cu/

Forum 2003 Organizers:
* Latin American and Caribbean HIV/AIDS Horizontal Technical Coopera-
  tion Group.
* Community Networks
* Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba.
* Forum President: Dr. Manuel Santín from Cuba.

Forum 2003 Sponsors:
* Pan-American Infectology Association (API)
* International Council of AIDS Services Organizations (ICASO)
* United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
* Population Fund (UNPFA)
* Regional Initiative on AIDS (SIDALAC)
* UNESCO
* WHO/PAHO

Other sponsors were: FAO, UNAIDS, World Food Program (WFP), UNDP and 
the Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP +) and a im-
portant group of Cuban National Organizations and ministries.

Main Topics and scientific activities:
* Basic Sciences: 44
* Attention: 238
* Prevention: 566
* Behavioral and Epidemiological Studies: 372
* Social Responses: 247
* Public Policy: 146
* TOTAL: 1613

Related Sub-themes (Workshops):
* Greater inclusion of people living with HIV/AIDS
* Human Rights
* Gender
* Social Vulnerability
* Ethics
* Participation

Scientific Program Modalities:
* Special Lectures: 2
* Introductory Main Lectures: 4
* Conversation Tables: 27
* Satellite Sessions (workshops, symposia): 8
* Oral Presentations: 57 sessions
* Talked Poster: 260
* Exposed Poster: 1000
* Coffee Informal discussions: 10

2nd Community Forum  
Objectives:
* To analyze the answer to HIV/AIDS in the region since the division 
  of the community, the networks, the NGOs and the Governments.
* To promote the dialogue among the community delegates and the in-
  ternational organizations on the topics and expectations of the Re-
  gion
* To promote the visibility of the local community and its experience 
  Parallel to the Forum 2003, the 2nd Community Forum was developed in 
  session on April 7 and 8. Some activities were present like: Guidance 
  community approach and Networks meeting

Forum 2003. Participation:
* Countries: 44
* NGOs: 16
* Delegates: 1483
* Scientific Paper send: 1896
* Scientific Paper approved: 1613

Other general activities:
* Scientific visits to Cuban institution related to the HIV/AIDS Na-
  tional Program
* Active Scientific Cibercafé Services
* Scientific and Trade Fair

Forum 2003. Special Lectures:
* "From planning to implementation: defeating AIDS in America". Peter 
  Piot, UNAIS Executive Director.
* "National answer to the HIV/AIDS in Cuba" Gonzalo Estevez, Vice-
  minister of Health.

Main Collective Introductory Lectures:
* Where are we in Latin America and the Caribbean regarding HIV/AIDS 
  and STI?
* State of the art on HIV/AIDS and STIs
* Facing the roots of the epidemic in particular groups
* Challenges for the future

Main Conversation Table:
* Gender and AIDS
* Public Policies
* Basic Sciences
* Sexual and Reproductive rights related to AIDS.
* Which Epidemiology do we need?
* Human rights and community mobilization
* Prevention, does it work?
* Comprehensive care/HART
* Harm reduction

Other Conversation Table was:
- Vaccines and ethics challenges
- Sexual transmitted infections
- Pediatric AIDS
- Exclusion and vulnerability, sociocultural determinants
- Prophylaxis post labor and sexual exposure
- Viral diversity
- Access strategies to HART
- Adherence and quality of life
- Prevention methods under female control
- Vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis
- Multiresistant TB and HIV/AIDS
- Prevention in particular populations
- Preventive education
- Cultural homophobia and prevention of HIV/AIDS
- Human rights, security and AIDS
- AIDS and Poverty
- Youngsters sexual promotion and future of the epidemic
- Sexual Work

Forum 2003. Closure Ceremony:
* Synthesis and conclusions. Relatorio presentations
* Final speech: Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz. First Secretary of the Cuban 
  Communist Party and President of Cuban State Council. Commandant in 
  Chief.

Forum 2003. Finally something new?
* Yes, there were a lot of good and new ideas and results.
* HIV/AIDS are not a unique epidemic. There are more than one 
  HIV/AIDS epidemic.
* America Latina and Caribbean are the second HIV/AIDS affected area 
  but we will win, we are optimist and we are fighting.

Forum 2003. Havana:
Forum 2003 in Havana, Cuba, intended to continue fortifying the 
process of experience and knowledge exchange between the National 
Programs, the Organizations of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), 
the non-Governmental Organizations and Networks, the Public and Pri-
vate Institutions of Latin America and the Caribbean and Interna-
tional Agencies, as well as promoting closer ties between the differ-
ent sectors, consolidating the Forum as a facilitator of dialogue on 
the needs of the region. 
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