Focus on HIV prevention
The past 18 months have seen important developments in new HIV prevention technologies, organisers of the Seventh International Conference on Microbicides (M2012) say.
The biennial conference, to be held at the Sydney Convention Centre, April 15 – 18, focuses on developments in microbicides and oral chemoprophylaxis, also known as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), for HIV prevention.
PrEP is an experimental approach to HIV prevention where a person is given anti-HIV drugs before an event where they could be exposed to HIV to try to prevent the virus from establishing itself in the body.
“To share in the latest developments in HIV prevention through microbicides and other technologies, this is the conference to attend,” conference co-chairman, the Kirby Institute’s Professor John Kaldor said.
“The conference is the key event in the microbicides world, where cutting-edge research will be presented by world experts, and you will have a chance to interact with people involved at every level of microbicides development.”
The conference theme this year is ‘From Discovery to Delivery’.
A reduced registration rate is available for delegates who are also attending the Social Research Conference on HIV, Hepatitis and Related Diseases (HHARD) at the University of New South Wales on April 12 – 13.
INFO: www.microbicides2012.org
Mark of sydney, I agree with you and well said!
But condoms do prevent HIV infection unless they break. At any rate, let’s not judge people who are at higher risk for this terrible disease – rather, be happy that we’re making progress and make a donation to the cause.
Afraid I have to disagree there Mark. HIV infection occurs because of sexual behaviour that has a high risk of transmission, sharing needles and quite simply sometimes by accident (condoms breaking etc). High levels of sexual activity by itself does not make it “a matter of time”.
All it takes is one high-risk event with someone who is HIV+ (whether they are aware of their status or not), so even a virgin could get HIV if their first time wasn’t safe.
Total abstinence is the only level of sexual activity that totally prevents HIV infection, and for everyone else your best bet is condoms, lube, regular sexual health checks and knowing what the real risks are (like don’t brush and floss your teeth right before oral!) – no matter how much sex you’re having!
Finally, being fearful and feeling ashamed about your sexuality are sure-fire ways to increase the risks you take and often cause anxiety that prevent people from having sexual health checks regularly. Attempting to make others ashamed of their sexual behaviour is only exacerbating this problem.
One of the best “Preventions” is to steer clear of the magnitude of Gay Men in Sydney who choose to live a perilous lifestyle of endless No Strings Encounters with the attitude that a condom will prevent HIV infection.
Sooner or later the promiscuous types become part of the statistic,with endless encounters making it just a matter of time.
It’s sad,because we are fighting for Gay Marriage,but I fear this is treading on the toes of the silent majority who is forever looking for the ultimate one night stand on numerous gay websites,spa houses,night clubs etc