Greetings from Asha Kirana, Mysore, India

Asha Kirana is a ‘not for profit’ organization working in the field of HIV/AIDS since 1997, supported by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), New Delhi, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) Focus on AIDS (FOA) and the local citizenry.

On November 21st and 22nd 2009, Asha Kirana hosted the first ever India International Pediatric AIDS Conference (I-IPAC) 2009 in Mysore, South India which was very well attended by around 350 National and International delegates. Pre-Conference research methodology workshops, Support group meetings and a Programmatic workshop were held and a Mysore Declaration of Appeal for Global Commitment and Action was released with they key themes being  flexibility of PPTCT protocols in different health care settings and efforts to improve ANC coverage with an additional focus on the Private health sector and home deliveries; need for comprehensive quality of care to keep mother and child alive and healthy; safe infant feeding practices through comprehensive follow up counseling; improving the safety of breast milk through the implementation of evidence based protocols; the need to strengthen inter and intra sectoral linkages to ensure best quality of care; the pediatrician to be an integral part in care continuum of Children living with HIV; the need for a Comprehensive nutrient supplementation program to be researched and urgently implemented;  reduction of stigma and discrimination by co-ordinated efforts by Health care providers, the community and various organizations and stakeholders; moving beyond the discriminatory terminology “Orphan and Vulnerable Children’ to the positive phrase ‘Children with Hope and Courage’.

We now welcome you to the second Ind – IPAC 2011 to be held in November 2011 with the theme of the Conference being ‘Bringing Smiles'

The objectives of the Conference are:

1.Global and national Technical update on Adolescent AIDS
2.To identify gaps and unmet in service delivery between childhood and adulthood
3.To addresses challenges and conflicts in status disclosure
4.To highlight psycho-social issues which improve quality of life in adolescents with AIDS.
5.To formulate strategies to improve the availability and accessibility of reproductive health and HIV services for  adolescents  
6.To determine research priorities for future years

Imp. Dates:

Abstract submission      : Septmber 15th, 2011

Scholarship application  : Septmber 15th, 2011

Late breaker submission: October 15th, 2011

Pre Conference Workshop on “ Emerging Challenges of Adoloscent HIV/AIDS”