22 August 2005
7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific held in Kobe Japan from July 1st – 5th , 2005
Posted by Deogratias under: Burundi .
Dear Prayer Partner,
Greetings in Jesus Name!
I hope this message finds you well. Thanks for your prayers , I had a good trip to Japan.
The Seventh International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (7th ICAAP), a major conference to facilitate international cooperation on prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, will took place at the International Conference Center Kobe (ICCK) in Kobe, Japan from July 1 to 5.
Under the main theme “Bridging Science and Community,” the congress will work to foster a sense of solidarity in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region and encourage the Japanese government to increase its efforts in this field.
Participants were included HIV-positive individuals, NGOs, community representatives, policymakers and medical experts. They shared their knowledge of daily prevention,care and treatment and their experience in establishing community networks. This goes beyond the mere exchange of professional knowledge and expertise in the medical and academic fields and will enhance the region’s ability to cope with the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Asia and the Pacific. As of June 20, approximately 2,400 people, including journalists, from 45 countries, had registered to attend the congress, which is gaining
considerable attention as Japan’s first congress on HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.
Infections have gradually increased in Japan, rising to 1,165 reported cases in 2004, the first time the number exceeded 1,000. It can be stated that the epidemic is on the rise in Japan and can no longer be ignored. It is highly significant for Japan to host the 7th
ICAAP as the first-hand experiences of developing countries in their fight against HIV/AIDS will help the country to formulate better HIV/AIDS countermeasures.
Impact of HIV/AIDS on children could be minimised if parents remain free of HIV Kobe, Japan – Without immediate and extraordinary action on AIDS, the Asia Pacific region will see 12 million new HIV infections in the next five years. If urgent measures are adopted, that number can be cut in half.
While much attention has been devoted in recent years to scaling-up treatment for those already living with HIV/AIDS, the delegates at the 7th ICAAP congress reiterated the need to focus our efforts as well on preventing further infections from happening in the first place.
During ICAAP, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Family Health International (FHI) and Save the Children UK also highlighted the impact that a future runaway Asian epidemic would have on the children of the region.
They said that more than 1.5 million children in Asia and the Pacific are already orphaned by AIDS, according to new regional data, making protection, care and support efforts for children more urgent than ever.
While the number of children orphaned by AIDS is alarming, they represent only a segment of those affected by HIV/AIDS. Many more children in Asia and the Pacificare thought to be living with sick and dying parents or relatives and are at risk of losing their caregivers.
In addition to those orphaned by AIDS, another 121,000 children were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific by the end of 2004, with an estimated 47,000 children newly infected last year alone.
One of the assured ways to protect children from each of these fates is to reduce the number of new HIV infections among adults.
“This is an urgent wake up call for action,” said Anupama Rao Singh, Regional Director of UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office. “We not only have to do much more to protect and care for these children, but also step up primary prevention efforts to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS.”
My presentation at the Conference was about the situation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Burundi as you read in the attached file, we also have 200,000 are orphans due to HIV/AIDS. It time to everyone to stand up and fight HIV/AIDS by all means.
I am glad that you you prayed for me and that I was able to attend this conference, through this conference I know our people in Burundi especially children will get some support for their health.
May the Lord bless you as you continue to remember us in your prayers. May the Lord bless you.
Yours in Christ,
Deogratias NIYONZIMA
President & Legal Representative
Christian Community Development of Burundi
HIV/AIDS Department
P.0.Box 6972 Bujumbura
Burundi, AFRICA
Tel: 00257-979036
E-mail: gdeniy@gmail.com
Website: www.ccdburundi.org.uk
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