Prof. Jerry Coovadia

“It is with pride and pleasure that I welcome you to the South African AIDS Conference 2003.

This is South Africa’s first national AIDS conference. As you know, South Africa is at the centre of the epidemic, and in KwaZulu-Natal, the province in which Durban is located- an alarming 34% of the population is HIV positive. South Africa is where some of the world’s promising vaccines candidates are being tested and where research conducted into the prevention of mother to child transmission has received international acclaim. It is a country where support groups are at their most active and educational programmes are at their most informative.

Our conference programme promises to be informative and exciting. It is based on the five tracks of Basic and Clinical sciences; Social and Economic sciences; Epidemiology, Prevention and Public health; Startling successes and Spectacular failures; and Human rights, Ethics, Commitment and Action. These tracks are abstract driven and will be supplemented by Satellite, a skills building programme, poster sessions and an Exhibition.

We thank you for coming to the Kingdom of the Zulu to share our and community experience, and to bring hope to a nation that, although devastated by HIV/AIDS, has Taken Action and fought back with passion pride and promise. And, we hope you enjoy the conference.”