PSI showcases evidence-based HIV prevention methods at International AIDS Conference

Population Services InternationalJul 20 2010

Thousands of AIDS advocates, legislators, researchers and practitioners gather for the Rights Here, Right Now themed meeting in Vienna

Technical staff from PSI (Population Services International), a leading global health organization operating in more than 60 countries around the world, are currently attending the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna to showcase PSI's innovative, evidence-based HIV prevention methods, which have helped to successfully avert more than one billion cases of HIV infection over the past 40 years.

The Rights Here, Right Now themed meeting, which opened today and will continue through July 23, is considered a critical gathering place for those working in the field of HIV/AIDS to assess current progress and evaluate scientific developments in the fight against the spread of this disease. PSI will focus its participation on highlighting lessons learned from scaling-up male circumcision service delivery in Southern Africa and on its efforts to develop innovative communications campaigns and valid measurement tools for the reduction of concurrent sexual partnerships.  

"As attempts to find a cure continue, we must renew our commitment to HIV prevention and treatment programs that have been proven to work," says Krishna Jafa, Director of HIV, Reproductive Health and Tuberculosis at PSI. "With stretched resources, we must maintain focus on evidence-based, cost-effective tools and use them to scale up interventions that reach people at highest risk of HIV."

Southern Africa remains the global epicenter of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, yet recent progress in the region has given many cause for hope.  Zimbabwe is the first Southern African country to record a significant decline in HIV prevalence, due in part to reduction of risk behaviors and consistent condom use.  PSI/Zimbabwe and its partners at the UK Department for International Development and USAID launched a highly successful and innovative HIV prevention program that includes HIV counseling & testing, male circumcision, concurrency communications and condom promotion. In this program, hairdressers are trained as peer educators to talk to their clients about HIV prevention and the correct and consistent use of male and female condoms.  

Tears Wenzira, one of the hairdressers from the program, will be traveling outside Zimbabwe for the first time to attend the conference.  She and PSI's interpersonal communications manager will be braiding hair and educating attendees in the Global Village as part of UNFPA's CONDOMIZE! Campaign.

PSI will also be hosting a reception on Monday to honor the visionary leadership shown by three outstanding individuals: Mr. Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS; United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the former Minister for Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Mr. A.G. Koenders.

Throughout the week, PSI will present 68 posters and one oral presentation, highlighting program advances and effective solutions to HIV prevention in more than 20 countries. In addition, PSI will participate in a number of other major events throughout the week, including:

• Saturday, July 17 (8:00 AM – 5:30 PM): In collaboration with AmFAR, PSI will co-host a session on innovative approaches to meet the HIV prevention and support needs of MSM at the MSMGF Be Heard! pre-conference event.
• Sunday, July 18 (3:45 PM – 5:45 PM): PSI and Soul City Institute will host a Satellite Session exploring concurrent sexual partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa, co-moderated by Lebogang Ramafoko of Soul City Institute and Dr. Nancy Padian, Prevention Advisor for the U.S. Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator/PEPFAR, Independent consultant for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the University of California Berkeley.
• Tuesday, July 20 (2:00 – 3:00 PM): PSI will host a press conference evaluating results and recommendations for further scale-up of male circumcision services in sub-Saharan Africa, including neonatal circumcision featuring US Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby.
• Wednesday, July 21 (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM): PSI and FHI will host a Satellite Session focusing on strategies for the effective scale-up of male circumcision services, moderated by Dr. Kim Dickson, Medical Officer, World Health Organization.