Ireland 5th of Oct - Follow-Up Session to International AIDS Conference 2018

[Jim Allen]

We have a few members based in Ireland so thought I would share this.

Register now to attend this feedback session
Highlights and Follow-Up Session to International AIDS Conference 2018

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/highlights-and-follow-up-session-to-international-aids-conference-2018-tickets-50120465662




DESCRIPTION
The annual International AIDS Conference represents the largest conference on any global health issue in the world. AIDS 2018 was held under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges”, and brought together over 16,000 researchers, advocates, policy makers, funders and community leaders from more than 160 countries.

Following on from this milestone conference, IFGH, Concern and RCSI are holding a follow-up event, bringing together health workers, patient advocates, and civil society to discuss their highlights of AIDS 2018 and the implications for the Irish and global response to the epidemic. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about what happened at the conference and engage in a lively debate about HIV and AIDS.


DATE AND TIME
Fri 5 October 2018
14:00 – 17:00 IST

LOCATION
Houston Theatre, RCSI 26 York Street
26 York Street
Dublin

[Jim Allen]

Just left this roundup, summary session.

Was interesting and will post a few notes I took later today.

Jim

[Jim Allen]

So spent the afternoon at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

All in all, nothing mentioned that we did not (should not) already know but still I found it an interesting day and good to attend. Below a few notes I jotted down during the day.

First Speaker was Dr John Lambert
Dr John Lambert is ID consultant at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.

Scientific and epidemiological updates

In short discussed:

- HIV Treatment and Cure Research Highlights
- Rapid same day ART (Starting treatment nearly imidiatly after diagnosis)
- Block-and-lock strategies vs Shock & Kill   
- Vaccines & Vorinostat results http://i-base.info/htb/34618

Point on vaccines was that various ones that showed promise have been tried & tested and attempted over many years, with some rates of success in animal testing however results currently don't translate in humans, great if one does work but from a practical sense prevention is key PEP/PrEP & TaSP.

Quote "HIV - Easy to suppress, The immune system difficult to change"

Point on cures was that with HIV being an integrated virus in the human body (DNA/Tissue), a full cure is not in sight. More likely is one day a functional cure perhaps as in longer gaps between treatment intervals.


Breda Gahan from Concer,  discussed the links between poverty, inter-class attitudes and stigma. Observations are stigma is changing, not going way in some of the communities/nations


Susan Donlon from HIV_Ireland

The dangers of complacency, How we have seen outbreaks occur  in recent years of HIV in cities like Dublin/Luxembourg/Glasgow where there is sufficient resourcing & structure to prevent this kind of outbreak however complacency plays a role. Example when we think were on target or don't keep up to speed with the changes or changing needs under the population

90-90-90 goals, the first "90" goal (90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status) seems to be the one the most challenging

EMIS2017

largest international and multi-language study on gay, bisexual and other
men who have sex with men (MSM). 134K participants

U=U knowledge was 57%, PrEP 51%. Note was U=U message & the challenge of getting that message out to the wider audience. 

Copy of the report:
https://www.iwwit.de/sites/default/files/EMIS2017_CR01_english_ENDb.pdf

Robbie Lawlor

On the drop in the International HIV Assistance Funding, and the growing/continued funding needs

Also discussed U=U messaging, how this has been a useful message for some, however its lost in places where viral load testing is at a premium for the select few and, in order for such messaging begin to work in resource poor settings far more needs to be done in development/funding of viral load testing.

[leatherman]

thanks for the update!

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome.