A Welcome Message, Co-Chair, Monash Melbourne
In 2007 nearly 400,000 people, young and old were newly infected with HIV in the Asian region. In the same year, a similar number died of HIV-related illnesses. With the world’s highest national infection rates and HIV at epidemic numbers in Indonesia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam, now is the time to address this dire issue. Now is the time to take up the fight and become engaged in tackling HIV & AIDS.
As young doctors-in-training, we are in an extraordinary position to make a real difference for those 5 million HIV-positive people. As clinicians we can care for and provide the best possible treatment to this marginalised group. As community leaders we can address the stigma, confusion and fear associated not only with HIV but also with those very groups most at-risk; men who have sex with men, sex workers and intravenous drug users. As young people we can engage our peers, our brothers and sisters and our classmates. We can educate, empower and advocate; not only for those infected but for those most-vulnerable, their families and their communities.
The 2009 East Asian Medical Students’ Conference, entitled Engaging Asia-Pacific Youth in the Fight Against HIV & AIDS is a unique opportunity for each of you as delegates to learn, teach and share. With speakers and conference moderators from across the region, our hope is that over the coming days you will be equipped with the skills to be an effective agent in combating this disease and related stigma. Furthermore, you will be able to impart these skills onto those around you. In essence, you will yourself become an engager; taking the messages and the purpose of this conference far beyond Kuala Lumpur and possibly even Asia.
On behalf of the Committee, I welcome you warmly to Monash University and to Malaysia. I hope you enjoy the conference as much as we have enjoyed organising it.
Dr Alessandro Demaio
Co-Chair, Organising Committee
HMO, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia