Press Releases

October 26, 2003

THE DAWN OF NEW POSITIVE LEADERSHIP
People Living with HIV/AIDS unite in Uganda

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is in the tens of millions, but today we see an ever increasing number of people willing to stand up and state they are HIV-positive. They are our greatest resource. From Uganda to across Africa and beyond, some 800 delegates, 200 of whom are from Uganda, are attending the 11th International Conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS, 26-30 October, 2003 in Kampala, Uganda. The theme of the Conference is the Dawn of New Positive Leadership, and it is organized by the Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and the National Guidance and Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda (UGEN+). President Museveni will open the Conference. His personal commitment has led sustained government prevention efforts, as well as community care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Community activists, NGO workers and representatives from PLWHA organizations have come together to share information on and experiences of the HIV epidemic, to forge alliances and to network as part of their on-going efforts to respond to the epidemic. The commitments and resolutions made at the Conference will inform and influence community, national, regional, and international action. PLWHA leaders are breaking the silence about HIV/AIDS, and confronting the stigma and discrimination that continues to affect those infected and affected.

This conference comes at an historic time in the international response to HIV/AIDS. Treatment and care, once only a dream for the majority of HIV-positive people, is slowly becoming a reality for an increasing number. Doubters said it was impossible to introduce antiretroviral (ARV) therapy into developing countries, yet pilot programmes have proved them wrong. From Haiti to South Africa and also here in Uganda, the evidence shows it is possible to provide ARVs successfully.

"Action, not lip service, is urgently needed if some 8,700 people are to stop dying each day of HIV/AIDS due to lack of (ARV) therapy," said Major Rubaramira Ruranga, founder of NGEN+ and the Conference Chair. While new or expanded initiatives, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria or the World Health Organisation's emergency response to deliver ARV therapy to three million people by 2005 are welcome, the latter ignores the immediate need of another three million people to access ARVs. "HIV-positive people's hard won self-empowerment and experience in prevention, care and community support is being squandered as people succumb to HIV-related infections due to a lack of access to ARVs, simple antibiotics and other medications for opportunistic infections." reproached Stuart Flavell, International Coordinator, GNP+.

The current international endeavour throws into stark relief the disparities self-evident in the world we live. Clean water and good nutrition are basic needs of all people, and these are magnified for people who are HIV-positive. The inequalities between rich and poor threaten existing development. Billions of dollars of both private and public new money must be invested, in addition to the extensive debt reduction so many developing countries urgently need.

"It is a farce to try and meet the challenges of the epidemic with the current level of resources and government commitment. Half of the people infected with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa. The main objective of this conference is to invest in our greatest resource, our humanity. Strong individuals leading strong communities can advocate for humane and effective government responses," said Javier E. Rozette and Miguel Angel Ariza, activists from Génesis Panamá +.

To arrange interviews or for further information please contact:

Jennifer Bushee, Communications Coordinator
Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+)
Mobile in Uganda: (256) (0)78.301.915