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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear
friends,</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>We would
like to announce that the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">York</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> are co-organizing a conference on “Gender,
Child Survival and HIV/AIDS: From Evidence to Policy” on 7-9 May
2006, <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">York</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Toronto</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>, and would like to welcome
your participation. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><U><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></SPAN></o:p></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial><B><U>About the conference – background to the issue</U></B>
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>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 </FONT><A
href="http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/conference2006.htm"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/conference2006.htm</FONT></SPAN></A><FONT
face=Arial size=2> for more information. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial><B><U>Organisations or persons to approach</U></B> </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>We would
be happy to hear from you if you have any queries. We look forward to receiving
your registration form </FONT><A
href="http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/registration.htm"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>http://www.waba.org.my/hiv/registration.htm</FONT></SPAN></A><FONT
face=Arial size=2>. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best
wishes, </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dr. Penny
Van Esterik and Liew Mun Tip</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">York</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and WABA
</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Emails:
</FONT><A href="mailto:esterik@yorku.ca"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>esterik@yorku.ca</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2>, </FONT><A
href="mailto:waba@streamyx.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>waba@streamyx.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial
size=2> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial>“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”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial>Stephen Lewis, UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa
<BR>(WABA-UNICEF HIV and Infant Feeding Colloquium, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Arusha</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Tanzania</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
2002)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></I></P>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>WABA, PO Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia<BR>Tel:
604-658 4816 Fax: 604-657 2655<BR>Email: </FONT><A
href="mailto:waba@streamyx.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=2>waba@streamyx.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Website:www.waba.org.my<BR></FONT></DIV>
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