Conference Summary [Conference on Global Strategies for the Prevention of HIV Transmission from Mothers to Infants (1997)]

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Communication in International Setting
* Facilitate reporting of HIV/AIDS in local language press.
* Build skills of information sources to speak directly about issues.
* Encourage journalists to cover underlying issues about HIV, not just more
dramatic stories involving AIDS.
* Communicators must understand audience and cultural sensitivities.
* Include personal outreach components in media programs.
* It's vital to have adequate services, such as counseling and testing, when
you promote them.
* Involve people with AIDS in communications efforts.
Update on Clinical Trials
* Several trials on short-course AZT are scheduled to yield some results in
1998.
* Preliminary results from trials looking at other antiretrovirals or immune-based
interventions also are expected next year.
* Several international trials are looking at strategies to use during the breastfeeding period, such as short-course antiretrovirals, micronutrients to the
infant and a shorter period of breast feeding.
Political, Ethical, Legal and Human Rights issues
* Politicians need to acknowledge the problem of HIV and be encouraged to
take the initiative. They need to be convinced of the good of the cause. They
are critical to developing national public health policies.
* Patients need a stronger voice. Children and women have little influence in
developing countries.
* Scientists need to communicate issues to policymakers, and develop some
marketing skills.
* Develop policies now that can be put into practice when usable treatments do
become available for developing nations.

* Work to make healthcare a priority, which often is not the case in developing
countries.

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