SINGAPORE AIDS CONFERENCE

5th Singapore AIDS conference

Dear friends

Since the last Singapore AIDS conference (SAC) in 2004 there have been advances on several fronts in the fight to reduce HIV transmission and alleviate the impact of AIDS in our community.

There has been renewed vigour and new initiatives in prevention campaigns targeting vulnerable groups and individuals, and new medical treatments in the clinical care of infected persons. It is too early to evaluate the impact of these developments on the epidemiology of HIV or the standard of clinical care of infected individuals. What is clear is that we are far away from the goal of “Universal access to treatment and prevention” set by UNAIDS for all countries and territories.

The theme of the 5th SAC is – “HIV in Singapore - The Challenge and The hope”.?

We must take stock of where we are now, 25 years after the beginning of the pandemic, and ask the following questions : Have we as a nation done what is needed to stop the epidemic? Have there been enough efforts to overcome AIDS-related discrimination and stigma in our community? Are our treatment and care programmes on par with the standards of care in other countries? Do we provide access to prevention programmes to all sectors of the community? What are the barriers that still stand in the way of implementing effective, equitable and inclusive AIDS control and support programmes, and what do we need to do to overcome them?

The SAC is designed for all stakeholders and workers in our collective efforts to address AIDS. We welcome and invite researchers, prevention, care and support experts, community groups and administrators, media representatives and private businesses, activists and health care professionals, infected persons and politicians, to come together on the 2nd of December 2006 to participate in this conference to listen, discuss and debate the issues.

This year we welcome the Health Promotion Board as the third organizer of the SAC. HPB has been supportive of the SAC from the first conference, and this year it has taken on a much bigger role in the programme planning. We also welcome clinicians and NGOs from the Riau islands who will present some of their programmes.

Mark the date for the 5th SAC, we hope to see you there.

A/Prof Roy Chan Co chair

Dr Benda Ang Co chair

[ Download the conference Programme ]

[ Download the 5th Singapore AIDS conference Flyer ]

[ Download the 5th Singapore AIDS conference Registration Form ]