IAS president will use AIDS 2012 to say 'thank you' to U.S. for contributions to HIV/AIDS battle

Elly Katabira, president of the International AIDS Society and co-chair of the 19th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), said he will use the conference as an occasion to say "thank you" to the U.S., VOA News reports. "We want the world to know how we appreciate the contribution of the American people. We know that we haven't been going to the U.S. for the last 22 years, but in spite of that [the] U.S. is still the leading contributor to the struggle against the epidemic," Katabira said, according to the news service. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C., from July 22-27, VOA notes, adding, "The U.S. hadn't hosted the conference in so long due to a travel ban on those who were HIV-positive." Katabira said he will stress continued funding for efforts to fight the epidemic, increased awareness and involvement among young people, and decreased stigma and discrimination against men who have sex with men and transgendered persons, according to the news service (De Capua, 6/28).