PHA-Exchange> WABA conference in Toronto

[Claudio]

Dear friends,

 

We would like to announce that the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and York University are co-organizing a conference on "Gender, Child Survival and HIV/AIDS: From Evidence to Policy" on 7-9 May 2006, York University, Toronto, Canada, and would like to welcome your participation. 

 

The HIV issue has been a grave challenge. In the area of prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT), HIV/AIDS, women's and breastfeeding/infant feeding groups need to work together to find common understanding, mutual support and possible solutions. 

 

About the conference - background to the issue 

Gender inequity underlies the marginalization of women living with HIV/AIDS. HIV positive mothers are further burdened with the dilemma of weighing risks to ensure the best health outcome for their children. This conference aims to bring together women's health groups, HIV/AIDS groups and breastfeeding and infant feeding advocates for a critical examination of the role of gender in health research, and how evidence is used (or not used) to direct policy relevant to women's health, infant health, and HIV/AIDS. The conference will also review the latest research on the transmission of HIV and the health outcomes of different infant feeding options, often missing from clinical discussions of pediatric AIDS (also referred to as mother-to-child-transmission, MTCT). This conference aims to provide a safe environment where divergent views on gender and HIV/AIDS are respected. Please visit http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/conference2006.htm for more information. 

 

Organisations or persons to approach 

We would also like to request that you send this information to those who would be interested, or let us know of other organizations and contact persons to whom we should send a letter of invitation to participate in the conference.  

 

We would be happy to hear from you if you have any queries. We look forward to receiving your registration form http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/registration.htm. 

 

Best wishes, 

Dr. Penny Van Esterik and Liew Mun Tip

York University and WABA 

Emails: esterik at yorku.ca, waba at streamyx.com 

 

 

"You are fighting for the survival of women and infants, recognizing the excruciating dimension of HIV transmission, addressing it in a sophisticated, knowledgeable way, even if on occasion, it means replacement feeding in circumstances where you might wish otherwise. You're fundamentally fighting for the emancipation of women, and there is no fight in this world more worthwhile"

Stephen Lewis, UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa 
(WABA-UNICEF HIV and Infant Feeding Colloquium, Arusha, Tanzania, 2002)



The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection,  promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide based on the Innocenti Declaration, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. Its core partners are International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), La Leche League International (LLLI), International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), Wellstart International, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) and LINKAGES. WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF and an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). 

WABA, PO Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: 604-658 4816 Fax: 604-657 2655
Email: waba at streamyx.com
Website:www.waba.org.my


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