Join PATH at AIDS 2012
PATH will showcase our wide-ranging expertise in addressing the global HIV/AIDS epidemic at the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) from July 22 through 27. PATH staff will join colleagues from around the world to highlight the conference’s theme of “turning the tide together” to change the course of the epidemic. PATH President and CEO Steve Davis, program staff, and recruiters from PATH will take part in sessions, receptions, and exhibits to demonstrate the innovative technologies, strategies, and tools we’re using to fight the epidemic.
The conference—the world’s largest on HIV and AIDS—will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
Visit us in the Exhibition Hall and Global Village
PATH’s technologies and other innovative approaches to prevent the spread of HIV will be on display at Booth 128 in the Exhibition Hall for the duration of the conference. We will feature the SILCS Diaphragm and Woman’s Condom, demonstrate an interactive computer game, and screen episodes of the popular Kenyan MTV drama Shuga: Love, Sex, Money, created with The Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation, Kenya (HFG/K). There will also be a booth in the conference’s Global Village featuring HFG/K.
Panel discussion and receptions with Steve Davis
PATH President and CEO Steve Davis will cofacilitate a capacity-building workshop hosted by McKinsey and Company on how HIV organizations can make their boards of directors more effective. The session will be held Thursday, July 26, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Mini Room 2. Mr. Davis will also take part in sessions and receptions hosted by PATH throughout the conference.
Addressing gender and HIV/AIDS
Dr. Julie Pulerwitz, director of PATH’s HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) program, will moderate a session about gender and HIV/AIDS in international settings. The satellite session will focus on strengthening capacity for evaluation and programming to improve gender equity and reduce HIV risk. The session will be held Tuesday, July 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mini Room 8.
An HIV-free generation
PATH’s work to slow the spread of HIV among young people in Kenya, including through the hit television show Shuga: Love, Sex, Money, will be featured in sessions highlighting HFG/K. This innovative public-private partnership, supported by PATH, aims to cut HIV incidence by half among Kenyan youth. PATH, UNICEF, and other organizations will cohost a screening of two episodes ofShuga on Tuesday, July 24, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The screening will be held at the Hotel Palomar (2121 P Street NW, Phillips Room) and will be followed by a Q&A session with HGF/K partners and Shuga cast members. On Thursday, July 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mini Room 8, we will cohost a reception and discussion focused on the role of the private sector in HIV prevention, featuring current partners under the HFG/K umbrella.
Working in conflict and post-conflict settings
Trad Hatton, chief of party for the PATH-led Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Integrated HIV/AIDS Project (ProVIC), will chair a panel session about community responses to HIV and sexual and reproductive health in the DRC and Côte d’Ivoire. The session will be Tuesday, July 24, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Global Village networking zone.
Integrating services for HIV and tuberculosis
PATH will host a satellite session on Wednesday, July 25, to highlight how integrating services for HIV and TB can turn the tide on HIV. TB is the leading killer of people with HIV, and integrating health services for both HIV and TB is essential to reduce illness and death from co-infection. PATH staff will present on-the-ground experiences and successes in integrating the delivery of HIV and TB services and will provide participants with ways to support the scale-up of integrated services at the local, national, and global levels. The session will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mini Room 2.
On Thursday, July 26, in the Global Village networking zone, PATH staff will facilitate an interactive game featuring HIV/TB integration. Join us beginning at 10:00 a.m. to play the game, network, and pick up materials about our work in HIV and TB.
Condoms and HIV prevention
Is the scientific and programming community ignoring condoms as a proven method to prevent HIV transmission? Global advocacy specialist Kim Whipkey of PATH will take part in a moderated debate session to answer this question on Thursday, July 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Global Village, Session Room 2. PATH is a cohost of the session.
We’re also cosponsoring a wine and cheese reception with a discussion on how to ensure that female condoms have a permanent place in HIV prevention, treatment, and care programs. The reception is Wednesday, July 25, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mini Room 5.
Additional PATH expertise at the conference
PATH staff from around the world will deliver presentations and join in poster sessions on topics including contraceptive need and use, couples’ voluntary HIV counseling and testing, prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, HIV testing and prevalence among injecting drug users, and new biomedical HIV prevention options.
About the conference
The biennial conference is the world’s largest meeting on AIDS. Organizers expect an estimated 25,000 people from nearly 200 countries to attend AIDS 2012, where former US President Bill Clinton, South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, philanthropist Bill Gates, humanitarian and musician Sir Elton John, and numerous top AIDS researchers and leaders will address the conference. This year is the first time in more than 20 years that the conference will be held in the United States.