BANGKOK – The HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT) is hosting the 18th Bangkok International symposium on HIV medicine from 13th-15th January 2016 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
The symposium aims to disseminate information in order to further develop medical treatments and to update knowledge in accordance with current practices. The symposium also includes talks by eminent speakers and will conduct workshops for more than 500 participants from the Asia Pacific region, United States, Europe and Africa, many of whom are doctors, nurses or pharmacists.
Dr. Phan Wannamethee, Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross society has already advised the media that the HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration is playing a leading role in acknowledging progress and promoting education in this field since it remains important even though HIV infection in Thailand hasn’t increased. He also expressed appreciation to HIV-NAT for conducting the symposium that is to everybody’s advantage.
Ms. Deborah Birx, United States Ambassador-at-large, Coordinator of the United States government’s Activities to combat HIV/AIDS and United States Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy appreciated the progress in decreasing the HIV Infection rate in Thailand but also spoke of concerns about West Africa where HIV infection still tends to increase significantly. Moreover she promoted Cost Effective Strategies to end HIV including a suggestion to persuade people to answer questions in the test honestly and change their behavior accordingly in order to eliminate HIV.