[afro-nets] WABA conference in Toronto

[Claudio SChuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

WABA conference in Toronto
--------------------------

Dear friends,

We would like to announce that the World Alliance for Breast-
feeding Action (WABA) and York University are co-organizing a
conference on "Gender, Child Survival and HIV/AIDS: From Evi-
dence to Policy" on 7-9 May 2006, York University, Toronto, Can-
ada, and would like to welcome your participation.

The HIV issue has been a grave challenge. In the area of preven-
tion of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT), HIV/AIDS, women's
and breastfeeding/infant feeding groups need to work together to
find common understanding, mutual support and possible solu-
tions.

About the conference - background to the issue

Gender inequity underlies the marginalization of women living
with HIV/AIDS. HIV positive mothers are further burdened with
the dilemma of weighing risks to ensure the best health outcome
for their children. This conference aims to bring together
women's health groups, HIV/AIDS groups and breastfeeding and in-
fant feeding advocates for a critical examination of the role of
gender in health research, and how evidence is used (or not
used) to direct policy relevant to women's health, infant
health, and HIV/AIDS. The conference will also review the latest
research on the transmission of HIV and the health outcomes of
different infant feeding options, often missing from clinical
discussions of pediatric AIDS (also referred to as mother-to-
child-transmission, MTCT). This conference aims to provide a
safe environment where divergent views on gender and HIV/AIDS
are respected.
Please visit http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/conference2006.htm for
more information.

Organisations or persons to approach

We would also like to request that you send this information to
those who would be interested, or let us know of other organiza-
tions and contact persons to whom we should send a letter of in-
vitation to participate in the conference.

We would be happy to hear from you if you have any queries. We
look forward to receiving your registration form
http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/registration.htm


Best wishes,

Dr. Penny Van Esterik and Liew Mun Tip
York University and WABA
mailto:esterik@yorku.ca
mailto:waba@streamyx.com

"You are fighting for the survival of women and infants, recog-
nizing the excruciating dimension of HIV transmission, address-
ing it in a sophisticated, knowledgeable way, even if on occa-
sion, it means replacement feeding in circumstances where you
might wish otherwise. You're fundamentally fighting for the
emancipation of women, and there is no fight in this world more
worthwhile"

Stephen Lewis, UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa
(WABA-UNICEF HIV and Infant Feeding Colloquium, Arusha, Tanza-
nia, 2002)

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global
network of individuals and organisations concerned with the pro-
tection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide based
on the Innocenti Declaration, the Ten Links for Nurturing the
Future and the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young
Child Feeding. Its core partners are International Baby Food Ac-
tion Network (IBFAN), La Leche League International (LLLI), In-
ternational Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), Wellstart
International, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) and
LINKAGES. WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF and an NGO
in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social
Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

WABA
PO Box 1200
10850 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +604-658-4816
Fax: +604-657-2655
mailt6:waba@streamyx.com
http://www.waba.org.my