National Conference on Women & HIV
to Be Held in Los Angeles in 1997

As we move into the 21st century questions about women's health and most importantly women's daily lives still remain unanswered. As women we have been disempowered, disenchanted and discontent with our access to HIV/AIDS treatments, trials and overall care. We have had to turn to our peers for support and education. What if that were to change; what if we had the opportunity to challenge the barriers to health care, to influence public policy and work in a combined effort with scientist, community activists and health care providers to change the course of how HIV infected women access both care and crucial life-enhancing information. Well now we have our chance.

In May of 1997, Los Angeles will host its first ever Nation Conference on women and HIV infection entitled "Innovation for Care, Policy, and Prevention."

The conference, initiated by the HIV Epidemiology Program of L.A., was conceptualized by an L.A. based working consortium and a National Board of Directors, comprised of care providers, infected women, researchers and policy makers.

The overall mission of the conference is to provide a national forum for investigators, infected and affected women, health care providers and policy makers to exchange information and initiate action aimed at preventing and treating HIV in women. The idea is to present the latest unpublished data on women as well as educate heath care providers on recent advances. Conference sessions will be structured within 3 tracks: Basic and Clinical Science, Prevention Science, and Policy. The vision will be articulated through focused conference plenary sessions. The "Care" plenary panel, for example, will look at antiretroviral therapy from a basic science, clinical science, patient and a policy perspective. Issues such as balancing benefits, risks and drug interactions, implementing multiple therapies and caring for HIV-infected adolescents will be explored. Panels will include the perspective of an HIV positive woman.

The program includes state-of-the-art lectures that will highlight issues such as the latest research in viral load and disease progression in women; emerging pathogens in women; violence, partner notification , and financing health care.

A program for positive women is being developed. Sessions will provide HIV infected women with a forum in which the scientific data presented will be discussed in greater depth and layperson terminology. This effort to increase the participation of HIV infected women in all aspects of clinical research and dialogue sessions will enhance the informational contributions and create a new model for access to resources.

Additional dialogue sessions will promote and assist in the establishment of guidelines for standards of care for HIV treatment and prevention, and diagnosis and treatment among adolescent and adult women. This conference will also provide numerous networking opportunities.

The conference will offer free child care and partial as well as full scholarships to encourage HIV infected women to attend. For additional information or to be put on our registration mailing list please contact Alexandra Minnis at the HIV Epidemiology Program at 600 S. Commonwealth Ave. Suite #1920, Los Angeles, CA 90005 or send e-mail to womenconf@aol.com.