Indonesia to host Asia-Pacific Aids congress next year
17/06/2008
The Indonesian tourist resort of Bali has been confirmed as the venue for next year's International Congress on Aids in Asia and the Pacific.
Now entering its ninth year, the congress will seek to renew the struggle to find new ways of countering the spread of HIV/Aids across the Asia-Pacific and South Asian regions.
"The congress will take place under the auspices of the Aids Society of Asia and the Pacific," Antara news agency quoted Zubairi Djoerban, chairman of the meeting's organising committee, as saying.
Revealing details about the event - which is due to take place between August 9th and 13th, 2009 - he added: "About 500 delegates from 50 countries are expected to take part in the congress."
Several countries in Asia have been identified as high-risk hotspots for the spread of the virus, notably including China - where authorities have in the past been accused of stigmatising the disease.
According to UNAids, the Asian nations of Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal and Bangladesh all saw rising HIV prevalence rates last year as their respective governments struggled to contain the threat posed by the scourge.
In spite of this, health experts have praised region for its commitment to confronting HIV/Aids, noting that the total number of sufferers in the Asia Pacific area has largely remained unchanged at 8.5 million.
Commenting on the difficulties ahead, Indonesian coordinating minister for people's welfare, Aburizal Bakrie, said: "Without adequate intervention, the virus will by 2015 have infected one million [additional] people, killed 350,000 and infected 38,500 children."
Dr Djoerban added: "We hope participants from Asia and the Pacific will share experience, particularly those who are policy makers."
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