Singapore To Step Up Fight Against Stigma And Discrimination

Singapore, 6 November 2008 - The 6th Singapore AIDS Conference, organised by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Action for AIDS, will kick off on Saturday, 8 November 2008 with the theme - Fight the Disease, Fight the Stigma. The conference aims to address the stigma associated with the infection and to help fight the discrimination faced by both the infected and affected.

Addressing stigma and discrimination and developing accepting attitudes towards people living with HIV are key in creating an environment that is supportive of testing and early detection, which in turn prevents possible further HIV infection.

The 6th Singapore AIDS Conference
The 6th Singapore AIDS Conference recognises that the fight against HIV/AIDS requires the support of partners from different industries and settings. For the first time, the Conference will be held in conjunction with the National Healthcare Group s Annual Scientific Conference and supported by the Society of Infectious Diseases and the Department of STI Control.

The symposiums and sessions throughout the conference will also engage key opinion leaders such as private sector professionals, volunteer welfare organisations and the media, all significant in influencing the workplaces and the community.

The Conference will be officially launched by Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Senior Minister of State (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) on 8th November 2008 at the Suntec Convention Centre

Addressing the issues
Prassada Rao, Director UNAIDS Support Team for Asia and the Pacific will deliver the first keynote address on Redefining the HIV Epidemic in Asia and Crafting an Effective Response. His address will make a strong case for the need for government and business leaders to assume a more proactive role in the HIV response and that community and civil society involvement should be ensured at all stages of policy, programme design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

The second keynote address by Professor Andrew Grulich, Head HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Programme, National Centre in HIV Prevention and Clinical Research will share the Australian Experience in What Makes an Effective HIV Prevention Programme. The HIV programme in Australia, and New South Wales in particular is acknowledged to be one of the most successful in the world.

To discuss the various issues associated with HIV and AIDS, the Conference has been segmented into different sub-themed sessions. These sessions include Leadership, Clinical and Social Sciences, Prevention, Care & Support and Overcoming Barriers.

Leadership will concentrate on the need for political and community leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS; the media s role in helping to tackle HIV-related stigma and discrimination and the role religious leaders play in eradicating stigma both within and outside their congregations.

Clinical and Social Sciences will discuss the clinical epidemiology of HIV infection; the availability of new treatment regiments and medicine in Singapore and the findings of the first National Behavioural Surveillance Survey conducted by HPB.

Prevention will provide an update on current prevention methodologies and will address this compelling issue in the context of the workplace HIV education; Safer Sex campaigns for at-risk groups; outreach programmes for at-risk youth and sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV prevention.

Care and Support will draw attention to the various social and psychological support needs of people living with HIV by addressing these needs through outreach work with people living with HIV; discussing HIV in Marriage and Pregnancy and tackling Discrimination in the Workplace. A person living with HIV will also share his experience on living with the infection.

Overcoming Barriers examines the various factors that contribute to HIV-infection. Included in this discussion is Talking to Children about Sexuality Issues; addressing Access to Treatment and the connection between Human Rights and HIV.

The organisers expect some 600 delegates to attend this one-day Conference.

About Health Promotion Board
Established in 2001, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has a vision to build a nation of healthy and happy people.

Although residents in Singapore today enjoy good health with high life expectancy and low mortality rates, we want to further improve our health status and continue to enjoy good health as we age.

To achieve this, HPB assumes the role of the main driver for national health promotion and disease prevention programmes. Our goal is to increase the quality and years of healthy life and prevent illness, disability and premature death.

HPB implements programmes that reach out to the population, specifically children, adults and the elderly.

A healthy nation comprises people who can embrace life fully. HPB is committed to helping residents in Singapore attain optimal health through our health promotion and disease prevention programmes.

For more information on HPB and our programmes, kindly visit www.hpb.gov.sg

About Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), established in 1844, is the second largest acute care general hospital in Singapore, with specialty centres in Rehabilitation Medicine and Communicable Diseases.

Named after its founder, Mr Tan Tock Seng, a Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist. The hospital is a member of the National Healthcare Group and continues to provide high quality holistic healthcare services to the people of Singapore. After three major moves in its long and distinguished history, the hospital now provides most of its services in one modern complex, comprising the Hospital Block, the TTSH Medical Centre and the Podium Block. Our 1,200-bed hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and medical equipment, as well as the latest communication and information technology tools.

Tan Tock Seng Hospital champions the development of Geriatric Medicine, Infectious Disease Management, Rehabilitation Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Rheumatology, and Allergy & Immunology in Singapore.

We are also a major referral centre for Geriatric Medicine, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gastroenterology, Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat) and Orthopaedic Surgery.

About Action for AIDS
Formed in 1988, Action for AIDS (AfA) is a voluntary community based organization and a registered charity since 7 October 1994. We are also a registered IPC under the Ministry of Health from 15 December 2004. Our objectives are to provide support and assistance to persons living with HIV and AIDS (PWAs); to increase awareness, education and understanding of AIDS and HIV infection; to combat discrimination and stigmatisation of (PWAs) and their loved ones; and to encourage AIDS-related research activities in Singapore.

The organization is run for the most part by volunteers. Various support and welfare programmes are run for people living with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones.

Our educational activities range from telephone counselling, public talks and exhibitions, and outreach to the community and target groups, which includes the development and distribution of educational materials and publications.

We also operate the only anonymous HIV-testing facility in the Singapore.

In the research field we have been involved in behavioural research and intervention programmes for human resource managers, sex workers and other communities.

Action for AIDS is funded through donations from various agencies, private individuals, foundations, and businesses both large and small.