{"id":4372,"date":"2015-03-11T09:10:40","date_gmt":"2015-03-11T06:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajan.africa\/international-aids-conference-gives-reasons-to-hope\/"},"modified":"2015-03-11T09:10:40","modified_gmt":"2015-03-11T06:10:40","slug":"international-aids-conference-gives-reasons-to-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajan.africa\/fr\/international-aids-conference-gives-reasons-to-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"International AIDS Conference gives reasons to hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Hope: this one word sums up the views of three African Jesuit priests who were among 20,000 participants at the 19\u00e8me<\/sup> International AIDS Conference held in Washington DC from 22 to 27 July.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jesuits, participating on behalf of AJAN, left with renewed hope due to positive developments reported from the ground and the genuine desire they felt in policymakers and others to really \u201cturn the tide together\u201d \u2013 the IAC motto \u2013 and to end AIDS.<\/span><\/p>\n

There were questions and doubts too, especially around the sustainability of the AIDS response. This is hardly surprising given the recent plateau or decline in international funding for many programmes and the reality that there are still eight million people who need treatment but are not getting it yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the overall message was upbeat. <\/span>\u201cScientists, artists and statesmen said one thing in common in their speeches at the conference: let\u2019s put an end to the pandemic that has caused so much suffering to humanity,\u201d said Fr Jean-Simon Ratsimbazafy SJ from Madagascar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis conference has been for me a conference of hope,\u201d said AJAN Coordinator Paterne Momb\u00e9 SJ. \u201cI was encouraged by the acknowledgement that the scourge called HIV\/AIDS is still among us and requires sustained commitment, and I have the feeling that leaders, including those of African countries, are committed to putting AIDS back on their agenda and playing their role.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to a previous IAC he attended, Fr Momb\u00e9 was more impressed by this year\u2019s edition: \u201cFrom day one, it appeared to me that there was progress in many respects: the focus was on real issues, less on particular lobbies, and on good results that led many to announce the end of AIDS.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fr D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Yamuremye SJ from Burundi agreed: \u201cI take away with me the message: Together, we can make an AIDS-free generation<\/em>. The engagement of many donors, especially the USA, to continue to increase funds to fill the treatment gap, is a sign of hope. Another is the commitment of African governments to increase the budget of health in general and HIV\/AIDS in particular.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fr D\u00e9sir\u00e9 also mentioned achievements emerging in the field: \u201cIn some countries, Botswana to name one, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is becoming a reality. This is a good hope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The elimination of PMTCT emerged as one of the core messages of the IAC, emphasised by by UNAIDS chief Michel Sidib\u00e9 and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Other key messages to emerge were: treatment as prevention; zero stigma; and the need for continued financial support, more political leadership and country ownership of the struggle against AIDS.<\/span><\/p>\n

The straightforward talking of the US Secretary of State was welcomed. \u201cI\u2019ve heard a few voices from people raising questions about America\u2019s commitment to an AIDS-free generation,\u201d said Clinton. \u201cWell, I am here today to make it absolutely clear: the United States is committed and will remain committed to achieving an AIDS-free generation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But apart from pledging the US\u2019 support, Clinton also urged others to do their part. \u201cMany calls were crystalized in the speech of Hillary Clinton,\u201d said Fr Momb\u00e9. \u201cHer message was: we have gone too far to go back and she called on other countries to commit themselves so that together we can turn the tide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to Clinton,\u201d added Fr D\u00e9sir\u00e9, \u201cwe can end AIDS, but we need patience, courage and the involvement of all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However Fr Jean-Simon sounded a note of realistic caution:<\/span> \u201cSpecialists are talking about the possible end of the epidemic although there is no cure yet, there are treatments that can control the disease and avoid the spread of new infections. But the question remains: in such a difficult economic context, how can funding be found to put all patients on treatment? Can there really be an end to HIV and people with HIV cured?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The concern about funding is borne out by sober facts. An article by Caritas Internationalis published toward the end of the IAC said: \u201cWith faith-based communities counting on external support, we are experiencing funding cuts that compromise the reach and quality of our services\u2026 funders brought the sobering news that increases in funding are not likely given the climate of the global economic crisis. Representatives of faith-based organisations candidly shared that they are being told to \u2018do more with less\u2019 and then pointed out that this is not possible when eight million more people need to get access to medicines if we want to save their lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hope: this one word sums up the views of three African Jesuit priests who were among 20,000 participants at the 19th International AIDS Conference held in Washington DC from 22 to 27 July. The Jesuits, participating on behalf of AJAN, left with renewed hope due to positive developments reported from<\/p>\n

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