World AIDS Conference 2012 Looking Back

How much fun to run into Scott M in the exhibits area.

It was a huge treat to run into Kim and Cait, my beloved students from Tanzania 2007.  These young women are definitely our future.  I'm so proud to be their "mom away from their mom!"

My goodness, another World AIDS Conference is over.  Though exhausted, somewhat depressed, and overwhelmed by all the information, I am also renewed in many ways.  And, not surprisingly, I find myself thinking about my highlights of the conference  and of course they were with those speakers who highlighted the populations of persons who continue to be most stigmatized.  These included the Ugandan physician who is open about being MSM and HIV-infected, (he may face some severe repercussions simply for speaking openly at the conference) http://globalhealth.kff.org/AIDS2012/July-26/Dynamics-of-the-Epidemic.aspx
On the same podium, in addition, we were on our feet as Cheryl Overs talked about Sex Workers rights.   She was amazing, and then finally Debbie McMillan gave hers and others' stories. She is an incredible Transgendered Woman who tore my heart out. 
Moving backwards:
I was proud that Bart Haynes shared the work of CHAVI, and actually helped the lay people like me to understand his team's work. http://globalhealth.kff.org/AIDS2012/July-25/Turning-the-Tide.aspx
If you watch this whole video, you will see some amazing presentations; Dr. Chewe Luo who totally blew me away as she talked about the importance of changing radically our approach to prevention of HIV from mother to infant.  We cannot afford PMTCT, we must treat women from infection onward.  I was convinced.   Linda Scruggs, rough and tough told us most of us, what we have done wrong.  Oh my, and what we must do.  And finally Geeta Rao Gupta reinforced the necessity of focusing on HIV/AIDS in women and girls, in fact just once and for all focusing on gender rights for women and girls. 
Moving back to Tuesday, check this link out and move to the speech by Dr. Nelly Mugo.  I fell in love with her over the course of the conference.  Her obvious kindness and compassion was reflected in each thing that she said, as well as in her body language and face.  Listen to her words as she struggles to encourage persons living with HIV to start treatment early when they still feel well.  She gave powerful evidence regarding the barriers to care for those are marginalized. Perceived risk... versus actually risk. Please watch her. She was the first person I had ever heard who talked about "seasonal risk"  It made a huge amount of sense. http://globalhealth.kff.org/AIDS2012/July-24/Challenges-and-Solutions.aspx
I believe that this World AIDS Conference will stand out amongst the others.  This won't just happen because the conference returned to the United States for the first time since 1990, but because of the combination of hope for cure, and the highlighting of the people left behind.  These people shared the podium with some of the world's greatest scientists. What a huge change, and they had much to share.  Much to share!

So, pardon the lack of pictures, but take the time to listen to these amazing webcasts.  It is time to turn the tide!

World AIDS Conference Day1

Last Night was the first day of the World AIDS Conference. 

Coming off of the ACTG meeting, moving to a cheaper hotel seemed to be just a little more exhausting. 
I didn't expect the thrill of the crowds to uplift my spirits (smaller meaner--from the ACTG) but in fact they did.  Partly, I felt more comfortable moving from a fancy hotel to the smaller Hampton Inn just up the road.  Here free breakfast, coffee and afternoon tea and cookies are served free!  Wifi is free!  How nice is that?  And though the issues of all World AIDS Conferences nag at the back of the brain (why do people have to travel for over an hour from their hotel, when there are a plethora of hotels in Washington proper?) In fact when John just walked up with a microwave popcorn bag, free from the lobby, I felt so bad and so good for where we are staying. So ok, I'm sorry about the travel and it sucks.!  These travel people should have their wrists slapped.

But, suffice it to say, yesterday and today have been exhausting.  Yesterday we viewed, Samantha, a woman's story of HIV. The film was made by John Waters and what a surprise to find that he helps  the John's Hopkins clinic and is friends with John G (not my husband) Bartlett as well as our friend Glenn Triesman frequently.  Wow.  It was a good start.

Saddies, John and I thought that the opening ceremony would be on TV,and thus darted out when the crowds were insane trying to get in.  And, of course there wasn't even a mention on the news that the conference had started, much less a video clip.  I remember Durban and Barcelona where that was all that was on TV.  Sigh.

We had highlights though today.  To get into the big sessions is now recognized as a feat. (what kind of planning went into this???) We stood in line for 20 minutes before the doors even opened for the Plenery session and then it was sort of like a "football" game in Spain.   I hope that Dr. Fauci, Phil Wilson and Hillary Clinton appreciate their "star power".  I cannot say that we did until they spoke. Though some people were unconvinced...those particularly are waiting for implementation of all the research done, were angry, but most of us were uplifted by the talks. 

(Dr. Anthony Fauci)

 

I love Hillary Clinton. She is a master.

 Here we see the possibility of an AIDS Free Generation... All three speakers talked about it.  Tony Fauci, Phil Wilson and Hillary Clinton.  Can it happen? Do we have the will?

I spent the rest of the day, working my way through posters and interesting presentations. Most of us pondered...do we have the will?  Will we put up the resources? I just don't know but I sure hope so.  I watched the protesters danced up in wildness....

And I went to more presentations about Co-Infections esp Hep B, Adherence and Caregiving and Ethics... I loved the condom brigade.

Let's hope that I am not the only one excited about the possibility of stamping out AIDS...Or, as Stephen Sondheim says, "Well...excited and scared..."  Somtimes I think that Into the Woods is a model for us all.  What a day.