Re: National Conference on Research in HIV & AIDS, April 21-23, 2006

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum Members/ NACO Res. Conf. Secretariat/ NACO DG,

Receiving this announcement on 10th April, for the very important " National

Conference on Research in HIV & AIDS " scheduled to be held from April 20-23,

2006, is a surprise and shocking.

Though I would like to complement the initiative of NACO and other coorganisors

in organising such an unique conference (better late than never), I find it to

be totally lop-sided. I'll cite instances based on which I seek your indulgence

at the earliest, certainly before the conference begins.

1) The announcement is toned in a high-handed fashion typical of a Government

event. It says, " This is to inform that the National Conference on Research in

HIV & AIDS is being held in New Delhi from April 21-23, 2006. The conference

would share useful information and would bring forth new ideas on cutting edge

research. For further information regarding the Conference, please log on to the

conference website: www.nacoresearchconference2006.com " This is not even an

invitation, but a mere information.

2) Opening page/ Home page of conference website states in Bold " CONFERENCE

DEADLINES Abstract Submission: CLOSED

http://www.nacoresearchconference2006.com/

3) Invitation page of the website says among other things, " It gives me great

pleasure to invite you to the National Conference on Research in HIV & AIDS,

which is to be held in New Delhi from January 10-13, 2006 " and moreover the

Director General of the NACO is shown as " Dr. S Y Quraishi, Special Secretary &

Director General, National AIDS Control Organisation "

4)Scholarship page says " Applicatiion for Scholarship has been closed. "

5)Abstract Submission page says: " Abstract submission is closed.

Thank you for your response. " (I do not know who's response they are refering

to.

6)Backgroung page list host of things and objectives, focus of conf. etc. No

mention of care & support, treatment or ART, Clinical issues; which means these

issues are totally out of focus of the conference.

7)Conference committees page shows some of the Who's Who in the field of

Health/HIV from the donor, govt. and some private agencies. Once again the

Advisory committee and the Organisaing committee both headed by Dr. S.Y.

Quraishi, SS & DG, NACO. No mention of Mrs. Sujatha Rao any where.

8)Program Schedule page is very interesting... no names of Plenary/

Keynote/Guest speakers/Oral presenters. No subjests in Skills-Building sessions.

Satellite session - topics to be decided.

Seems to be picked/copies from some other conference schedule and pasted without

any names/topics.

9) On 20th April 2006: only Registration/Opening ceremony/Dinner. What a

wonderful wastage of public money! Registration fee Rs. 2500/-(same for Indians

and Foreigners), to be paid to Delhi SACS.

10) Though this is being described as a Research Conference, none of the

agencies such as ICMR, NARI or for that matter any of the research agencies are

collaborators. Surprisingly " Resource Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS " is

at the helm of the affairs and not even NACO.

11) AIDS Society of India, the only professioinal body of doctors involved in

HIV care and support in India; which organised a very successful 1st National

Conf. of ASI in New Delhi from 2-4 April,2005, has not even been consulted or

invited. Even pleas from ASI were conviniently ignored.

Hence, what I understand is that this is a mere wasteful exercise, to exhaust

some allocated budgets of NACO and different agencies and needs to be debated

thoroghly on this important forum as also other concerned channels. In most of

the Government circles, those point out lacunae are described as critics and are

systematically sidelined.

I do hope the wiser counsel prevails and the conference does not end as another

government meeting and a directionless effort!

Dr.I.S.Gilada

Consultant in HIV/AIDS, Unison Medicare & Research Centre

Secretary General, Peoples Health Organisation (India)

Secretary, AIDS Society of India

Editor-in-Chief: AIDS ASIA, a bimonthly newsletter published independently since

1993

E-mail: ihoaids@...