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2012 AIDS Conference Comes To DC

Leaders from the worlds of science, diplomacy, politics, philanthropy and entertainment are speaking at AIDS 2012, including President Bill Clinton, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will participate, as will former First Lady Laura Bush.


The week-long conference will be held this year at the DC Convention Center to discuss policy, prevention and advocacy for those living with the disease.

"I am delighted that the District of Columbia has been chosen to host this conference", said DC Mayor Vincent Gray.

It has been more than 20 years since a conference has been hosted in our area.



Since 2000, HIV infection rates in the United States have remained stable at approximately 50,000 new infections each year.   While this is a significant decrease, the number is still high.

HIV/AIDS cases in the Nation's Capital still remains at an all-time high, despite education and public service announcements encouraging one to practice safe sex, and get tested to know their HIV/AIDS status.

“We’ve got to keep refining our strategy so that we’re saving as many lives as possible. We need to listen when the scientific community focuses on prevention. That’s why, as a matter of policy, we’re now investing in what works; from medical procedures to promoting healthy behavior," President Obama said in 2001 about the AIDS epidemic.
Prevention breakthroughs supported with American investments in scientific research include:

1) The discovery that treatment of people living with HIV not only improves their health, but reduces the risk of transmission to others.
2) The discovery that taking certain HIV medications reduces the risk of sexual acquisition among men and women at high risk for HIV exposure.
3) The discovery of an effective microbicide that prevents HIV transmission to women.
4) The approval of the first rapid home HIV test kit that allows people to get results in 20 minutes.
5) The discovery of important immune correlates of HIV protection that may help lead to the discovery of an effective vaccine.

The conference is expected to host more than 20,000 people from up to 200 countries from around the world.

For info on the 2012 AIDS conference, and to see a live web cast, click here.  For more, visit www.AIDS.org.

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