Reflections from AIDS2012

The 19^th International AIDS conference has just ended today. We have witnessed enriching discussion on the advances on HIV/AIDS science and community actions in response to the pandemic.The key issues have been on the state of the HIV/AIDS science towards cure with vast research looking at a range of different approaches to a possible cure, including:

·         Flushing out and destroying HIV lying dormant in ‘reservoirs’ in the body.

·         stem cell treatment (like that which cured the ‘Berlin Patient’)

·         Starting HIV treatment very soon after infection – an approach that would only work for a small proportion of people with HIV.

Financing HIV/AIDS initiatives and community actions on HIV/AIDS were altogether discussed. Both domestic investments in HIV/AIDS have been increasing in all countries,especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore the new era of fighting HIV/AIDS calls for sharing responsibilities, road map  and global solidarity. 

“Turning the Tide Together”, as a conference key theme was translated in several sub-themes for discussion such as:

•  Collaboration between the community, the researchers and providers,
•   Zero New HIV infection, Zero HIV related death and Zero HIV related stigma
•    Providing care to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS
• Helping women to help themselves
•  Respecting the community as part of the solution
•   Governments keeping their promises
• Believing that the end of AIDS is within our reach
• Fully funding the Global Fund
•   Working in partnership to find an AIDS Vaccine
• Working as a united front to end AIDS

We saw a lot of optimism in the fight for HIV/AIDS; Debora Messing  message that the AIDS free generation is actually near the reach, is an example of the optimistic messages.

However, there are some issues that needed more discussion and concrete decisions but were not addressed. In his editorial in IHP, Gorki Ooms mentions that Universal Health Coverage was rarely mentioned in AIDS 2012 and casts a doubt whether Universal health coverage can be a uniting force for all health movements due to its ambiguity.

In a view from the cave: AIDS: Turning the Tide or riding the Wave: Tom Murphy sees  AIDS conference as just another show game than a real changer. He indicates that despite the lack of money behind the problem, no financial commitment has been made during the conference.

Some optimism of Global Fund collaborating with PEPFAR to improve aids effectiveness might be one of the promising messages, although critics would wait to see whether it works effectively. 

Mobilizing finances was a hot topic in the AIDS 2012. For more information  visit Show Me the Money: Political commitment , Resources and Pricing session .