AIDS Healthcare Foundation to Preview AIDS Advocacy March and Events Set for Mexico City's AIDS Conference

Business Wire, July 31, 2008

Thousands of AIDS Advocates to March Sunday for 'Universal AIDS Action Now'

MEXICO CITY -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation:

Key Events Include:

* AIDS MARCH & RALLY, Sunday, August 3(rd)--March Demanding 'Universal AIDS Action Now' Proceeds from Plaza de la Revolucion to Zocalo Plaza, Starts at 3pm

* AIDS Satellite Session--'Global HIV Testing' Satellite Session with Dr. Kevin De Cock, HIV/AIDS Director for the World Health Organization (WHO), and Dr. Julio Montaner, FRCPC, FCCP, President-elect, International AIDS Society (IAS), Thursday, August 7th 6:30pm (Banamex Ctr, Session Rm #9)

* PRESS CONFERENCE: Friday, August 1st at 11:00am--Presidente Intercontinental Hotel - AHF to unveil the 'Mexico City Manifesto 2008'--A worldwide call to action on AIDS prevention, care and treatment. AHF will also discuss Sunday's treatment advocacy march, its conference satellite sessions and debates, and offer comment on Sunday's expected release of stark new data on HIV rates in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

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In anticipation on the XVII International AIDS Conference which kicks off on Sunday, August 3rd in the heart of Mexico City, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US-based NGO which provides medical care and/or services to more than 79,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America and Asia will host a press conference Friday, August 1(st) at 11:00am (Presidente Intercontinental Hotel, Salon Castillo, Col. Polanco, Mexico D.F.) to outline its activities and events throughout the week of the AIDS Conference. During the Friday press conference, AHF will unveil the 'Mexico City Manifesto 2008,' (in color and in both Spanish and English, one meter by 1.3 meters large) a worldwide call to countries, governments, world bodies and individuals calling on Conference delegates to pledge a commitment to the goals of the Manifesto, which include the significant expansion of pediatric treatment and HIV testing globally.

Chief among the events that AHF is spearheading is the "Universal AIDS Action Now" Rally and March Sunday, August 3rd (3:00pm beginning at the Plaza de la Revolucion and progressing to the Zocalo Plaza) which is expected to draw thousands of AIDS advocates and marchers. Marchers will call for increased access to care and treatment for those living with HIV or AIDS, including increased access to lifesaving antiretroviral AIDS drug treatments (ART).

From Zocalo Plaza, key March leaders will take a special caravan (together with select members of the media) to the Nacionale Auditorio where the advocates will deliver the 'Mexico City Manifesto 2008' to senior IAS conference officials.

This formal presentation will take place just prior to the official opening ceremonies of the XVII International AIDS Conference, where Mexican President Felipe Calderon will give the keynote address.

Earlier this week, President Calderon met with a diverse group of representatives from over 50 Mexican non-governmental agencies committed to improving the affordability of, and access to AIDS drugs in Mexico, to discuss the steep price and limited availability of lifesaving AIDS drug treatments in Mexico. During the meeting, President Calderon committed to the activists that he would make AIDS drug pricing a priority for the National Government and to seek ways to overcome barriers to access to care and treatment in Mexico.

Sunday's "Universal AIDS Action Now" treatment advocacy march is an

official event that has been endorsed by the International AIDS Society (IAS) the host body of the International AIDS Conference (IAC).

Another key event that AHF is hosting is a Satellite Session at the Banamex Center, the site for most conference activities. The topic of this AHF Session (Thursday, August 7th 6:30pmSession Room #9) will be 'Global HIV Testing.' The forum will feature several prominent leaders and advocates in the HIV/AIDS arena including:

* Kevin De Cock, M.D., HIV/AIDS Director, World Health Organization (WHO)

* Julio Montaner, M.D., FRCPC, FCCP, President-elect, International AIDS Society (IAS)

* Michael O'Shaughnessy, OBC, PhD, Chief Science Officer, bioLytical Laboratories

* Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation

* Sophia Mengistu, M.D., Medical Director/Ethiopia, Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO)

* Moderator: Angelina Wapakabulo, Chief of Administration/Africa Bureau, AHF/Uganda Cares

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 79,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org