Media [International Conference on AIDS (11th: 1996: Vancouver, Canada)]

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MORE THAN I,000 DELEGATES BENEFIT FROM AMBITIOUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VANCOUVER (July 7, 1996) -A total of 1,076 persons will attend the XI International Conference on AIDS as fully
registered delegates courtesy of an ambitious Scholarship Program that has drawn participants from every region of the
world, the Organising Committee announced today.
"We were humbled by the sheer volume of applications for the Scholarship Program but we are delighted that more
than 1,000 deserving individuals will be in Vancouver, able now to add to their depth of knowledge on issues of
HIV/AIDS and to share their experiences with other delegates" said Dr. Michael Rekart, on behalf of Organising
Committee members Drs. Martin Schechter, Michael O'Shaughnessy and Julio Montaner.
The Scholarship Program Unit of the Vancouver Conference received a total of 3,367 applications. Scholarships were
awarded to 529 persons from the developing world, and 547 from the developed world. (Please refer to the
accompanying charts for a full statistical analysis of the Scholarship Program)
The Scholarship Program of the XI International Conference on AIDS is aimed at facilitating the participation of those
communities most affected by HIV/AIDS: people living with HIV/AIDS; front-line community workers and care-givers,
and people from the developing world.
Health Canada was the largest single donor to the program, contributing 1,000 registrations for people living with
HIV/AIDS, front-line workers and people from the developing world.
However, much additional funding was needed to cover the travel, accommodation and per diem needs of many
scholars. Organisers made application to more than 200 foundations, agencies and organisations for funding, some of
which had supported previous scholarship programs.
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was the largest single donor for transportation and
accommodation funding, contributing $600,000 (CAD).