XVI International AIDS Conference
Time to Deliver

Over 26,000 participants from more than 170 countries attended the sixteenth international AIDS conference - AIDS 2006 - from August 13-18 in Toronto. It is one of the most important gatherings for the release and discussion of key developments in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Back row: Karla McGraw, Atlantic Region; Diane Thiessen, Pacific Region; Kim Andreassen, Pacific Region; Jonathan Smith, NHQ; Léontine Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso; David Lewis, Atlantic Region; Abi Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso Front row: Hélène Racicot, Quebec Region; Mary Beth Pongrac, Health Services, NHQ; Diane Perreault, Quebec Region

As one of the federal participants, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) had the opportunity to collectively and individually demonstrate accomplishments and commitments in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Dr. Françoise Bouchard, Director General, Health Services, CSC, made the opening remarks at a satellite session of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support in prison settings.

"Prison inmates are vulnerable to HIV and other infectious diseases due to high risk activities in which they engage prior to their admission in federal penitentiaries and during their incarceration," said Dr. Bouchard. "The challenge is to prevent the acquisition and transmission of infectious diseases among inmates, provide comprehensive care, treatment and support for those who are living with HIV or AIDS and to contain any potential outbreaks."

This challenge is an opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles among inmates, including awareness, use of harm reduction measures, and prevention and education initiatives. One of the prevention initiatives created by CSC and promoted at the conference is called the Special Initiatives Program. As part of the many poster exhibitions that were selected by the scientific program committee of the conference, Mary Beth Pongrac, Project Officer, CSC Health Services, presented The Special Initiatives Program - HIV Prevention Strategies by Inmates and for Inmates. Supported with a portion of the funds that CSC receives from the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada, this effort provides an opportunity for inmates to develop educational materials and to organize activities dealing with the prevention of HIV and hepatitis C (another sexually transmitted infection) for all inmates.

Since fiscal year 2002-03, twenty-one inmate-led prevention projects and activities at thirteen federal penitentiaries have been funded through the Special Initiatives Program. Many of the products of the funded projects have been shared among penitentiaries across the country, thus reaching several thousand inmates.

The theme of AIDS 2006 - Time to Deliver - underscores the continued urgency in bringing effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies to communities the world over. The conference, officially opened by the Governor of General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, was organized by the International AIDS Society and the City of Toronto. Among the keynote speakers were the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages. Other distinguished guests included former American President Bill Clinton, Stephen Lewis, Special United Nations Envoy for HIV in Africa, and Bill and Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation.

This biennial international event provides a unique forum for the world's scientists, health care providers, educators, policy makers, AIDS service organizations, community leaders and people living with HIV/AIDS to share current knowledge on a full spectrum of issues concerning the global pandemic. It was the third international AIDS conference to be hosted in Canada, Montreal being the first host in 1989 followed by Vancouver in 1996. The government of Canada has also participated in international AIDS conferences hosted in other countries such as AIDS 2002 in Barcelona, Spain and AIDS 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mary Beth Pongrac, Project Officer, CSC Health Services, explains the Special Initiatives Program to a conference delegate.

The prevention of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, continues to pose a challenge for the Correctional Service of Canada as many offenders are already infected upon entering the federal correctional system. Most of them will return to live in the community. CSC recognizes that it is essential to control infectious diseases within penitentiaries while promoting healthy lifestyles among inmates, in order to not only protect the health of those incarcerated, but also those living in the community.