Harvard School of Public Health AIDS Initiative: Conferences and Events-2000: Second National Conference on HIV and AIDS in Botswana

INTRODUCTION
The “Second National Conference on HIV and AIDS in Botswana: Extending the Challenges and Benefits of Prevention and Care to All” will respond to the urgent need for prompt action to stop the spread of the AIDS epidemic throughout this southern African country. Presentations will cover basic science, clinical research and care, epidemiologic trends, vaccine develop-ment, mother-to-child HIV transmission, and the implications of recent sci-entific developments for future efforts against the epidemic. The conference will be useful to health care workers, laboratory personnel, and other service providers; public health officials; researchers; policymakers; students; and people living with HIV and AIDS.

WELCOME FROM THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the Second National Conference on HIV and AIDS in Botswana, I welcome you to this conference and thank you for your participation. “Extending the Challenges and Benefits of Prevention and Care to All” was chosen as the conference theme because of the situation in which Botswana finds itself today. As the theme indicates, challenges face all of us in areas of prevention and care. By coming together to share our knowledge, our resources, and our commitment to stopping the spread of HIV and AIDS, we will all benefit. No longer can one constituency, one organization, even one government hope to win the war against the epidemic that is sweeping across Botswana and across southern Africa. We must come together, as we are at this conference, if we are to have success. In 1997, it was estimated that approximately 15 percent of Botswana’s population were living with HIV. Today that percentage has risen to almost 20 per-cent. Women are at greatest risk as are youth in their most productive years. In addition, the number of orphans in Botswana increases daily. The financial and social implications of these statistics are staggering. By bringing together international experts as well as those on the “frontline” of the fight against HIV and AIDS here in Botswana, this conference will provide an arena for presenting the status of the AIDS epidemic in Botswana along with the latest research and treatment information. It is hoped that these presentations will strengthen Botswana’s national AIDS prevention program and help build its medical and scientific infrastructure. It is further hoped that this conference will give each of us a new vision and renew our commitment to our common struggle. HIV and AIDS are pre-ventable, but we have learned their prevention is not easy. One can live pos-itively with HIV, but we have learned that it takes commitment, support, and hard work. Botswana can survive this epidemic, but we have learned that it will take a united effort. May we work together during this week, and in the weeks and months ahead, to extend the challenges and benefits to all.

Yours sincerely,
Rose Mandevu
Chair, Organizing Committee

WELCOME FROM THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
On behalf of the Scientific Committee of the Second National Conference on HIV and AIDS in Botswana, I welcome you to the conference. Members of our committee are aware of the gifts of time and talent that will be shared this week, and we express our gratitude to each of you for the contributions you will be making. This year’s conference will include presentations in the areas of basic science, clinical research, care, epidemiologic trends, vaccine development, mother-to-child HIV transmission, the implications of recent scientific developments for future efforts against the epidemic, and community response. We believe we have brought together an outstanding group of people whose commitment to the prevention and control of HIV and AIDS will be reflected in the work they present. We hope that all participants will be enlightened and empowered by the information provided at this conference, and that everyone will go away with greater knowledge with which to wage war against this killer disease and with greater courage to speak out against behaviors that are allowing the epidemic to continue in Botswana.

Sincerely,
Dr. Esther Seloilwe
Chair, Scientific Committee