The conference is now in full swing and the venue is abuzz with activity and anticipation for the days ahead. Following are some highlights from the Opening Session speeches. The full speeches are available here.
Elly Katabira, International Chair of IAS 2011 and President of the International AIDS Society
“We all know that this event is happening at a scientific watershed in the global AIDS response. Indeed this conference may well turn out to be the marker of that watershed. All the indicators are here: we have a record number of abstract submissions this year, and we are coming off the back-end of two years of significant biomedical advances.
“These results could prove to be as important in the future as the anti-retroviral breakthroughs of the mid-90’s….
“I hope that, among other subjects, this conference will also be an opportunity to discuss the European Union free trade agreements that are under way and that may put a big threat to access to generic drugs in countries like the one I come from. This would be extremely bad news, and I hope our voice will be heard in asking that access to all drugs, including generic drugs, will not be diminished by new laws or regulations anywhere in the world.”
Stefano Vella, Local Co-Chair of IAS 2011 and Head of the Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità
“Scientifically these are exciting times for HIV research…However, I strongly believe that this enthusiasm needs to be tempered with the reality that for many countries in the developing world there remain major challenges ahead in delivering effective prevention and treatment programs. A goal made even more difficult in today’s tough economic times where the Global Fund and other global health initiatives are struggling against donor nation cuts.
“I am pleased that the issue is being raised in here in many sessions and I am sure that this conference will also give Italian stakeholders the opportunity to raise awareness of progress made to date, and to challenge the Italian government's waning commitment to fight HIV/AIDS in developing countries and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.”
Filippo von Schloesser, President of the Fondazione Nadir Onlus and Chair of the IAS 2011 Community Advisory Group
“Like other western countries, Italy is losing the war on drugs, putting far too many people who use drugs behind bars along with people who deal drugs. There is no better place for diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C to spread. While our politicians are living in denial, Italy needs to do more. We need to base our approach on scientifically based interventions, such as harm reduction, and not on ideology! Just as it says in the Vienna Declaration.”
Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS
“It is time for us to close the gap between science and implementation. We must be driven by a sense of urgency—the same sense of urgency felt by the millions who wait every day for your discoveries to reach them.
“My friends, we are depending on your activism to help us get to scale—with drugs, diagnostics, delivery and prevention.
“Science without activism is evidence without action.”