01 December 2005

Sydney to host major international AIDS conference

NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos and Minister for Tourism and Women Sandra Nori today announced that Sydney has been chosen to host the 4th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention between 22-25 July 2007.

The prestigious event will bring up to 6,000 of the world's top HIV/AIDS experts to Sydney.

Making the announcement on World Aids Day with IAS committee member Professor David Cooper of St Vincent's Hospital, Mr Hatzistergos said the state's success in responding to HIV had been outstanding.

"The decision to hold the IAS 2007 conference in Sydney recognises the great contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS made by NSW and Australian scientists, clinicians and researchers to advance our knowledge and understanding of the disease.

"Since the earliest days of the HIV epidemic NSW has developed effective policies to manage HIV/AIDS, provide the best possible care and treatment, support leading-edge research into the disease and to prevent and control new HIV infections," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"After 25 years' experience, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that the HIV management policies followed by the NSW Government have been immensely successful in preventing thousands of our young people from being affected by HIV/AIDS," he said.

Minister for Women, Sandra Nori, said that it was important to keep an eye on emerging health issues particularly as there had been a marked increase of HIV/AIDS notifications among women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds from 2003 to 2004.

"Preliminary analysis from the first half of 2005 suggests that the NSW Health's inspired work in strengthening programs to improve access to HIV education and testing among women of higher risk has delivered results," she said.

The 2007 conference will be organised by the Australasian Society of HIV Medicine (ASHM) which represents over 800 Australian and New Zealand HIV scientists, clinicians and researchers.

International HIV/AIDS expert and organising committee chair Professor David Cooper said Australia's rates of HIV and AIDS were among the lowest of all comparable countries.

"The IAS 2007 conference will be a tremendous opportunity for the world's top HIV/AIDS scientists and researchers to meet with their Australian counterparts to exchange the latest knowledge about the disease and to inform the general public about progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS," Professor Cooper said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au