Annual Meeting Speaker Recounts Challenges Created by Epidemic

HIV prevention expert Dr. Tom Coates discusses challenges in battling the epidemic at AFC's Annual Meeting.

Internationally renowned HIV prevention expert, Dr. Tom Coates spoke to more than 100 agency representatives, AIDS advocates, and AFC supporters at AFC's annual meeting November 7.

Coates, director of the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California at San Francisco, is considered to be among the nation's leading behavioral scientists working on HIV prevention issues. During his 40-minute address, Coates outlined the critical challenges in battling AIDS in the period ahead.

Coates began his remarks by noting the ongoing scientific challenges posed by a disease that attacks the very functions of the body responsible for providing frontline defenses against infectious diseases. While scientists have developed powerful HIV therapies, much work remains in creating better and more tolerable medications. The search for effective vaccines and microbicides are also pressing research priorities.

The epidemic's disproportionate spread in communities of color and among gay men and substance abusers continues to highlight the nation's fragmented and inadequate healthcare system. Persuading policymakers to adopt evidence-based prevention approaches remains an ongoing challenge, particularly with regard to interventions targeting sexually active youth and people who use controlled substances.

As AIDS survival rates improve, there is growing evidence that people do not dread HIV/AIDS as they once did. This is creating new challenges for prevention providers and researchers who must identify new ways of communicating the benefits of staying HIV-free. Improved AIDS survival rates have led, however, to a greater recognition of HIV-positive people as necessary recipients of HIV prevention services. According to Coates, more work is needed to design and evaluate primary prevention programs that are tailored for HIV-positive people.

Finally, Coates described the enormous challenges created by AIDS beyond our borders. As the epidemic threatens to destabilize entire societies in southern Africa, Americans must be ready and willing to help. The crisis in Africa is of unimaginable human proportions, and magnifies the impact of AIDS if left to spread unabated.

Coates delivered his address following several items of official business. AFC Board President Brandon Neese opened the meeting with remarks on the ongoing need for AFC's work. Luis Vera, chair of AFC's Service Providers Council and litigation director at the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, spoke of the need for AIDS advocates to remain committed to making a difference in battling the epidemic. AFC Executive Director Mark Ishaug described AFC's many accomplishments this year and thanked the hundreds of donors, service providers, board members, and volunteers who lent their support to AFC this year.

Annual elections for the AFC Board of Directors and the Service Providers Council were conducted by Board Member Valerie Hoffman and SPC Membership Committee Chair Armando Smith of The Night Ministry. The 2001-2002 SPC Executive Committee is comprised of the following members: