|TOP|The XVI International AIDS Conference opened in Toronto on Sunday 13 August, with the theme ‘Time to deliver’ highlighting the urgent need for the rapid delivery of HIV prevention and treatment services.

Some of Christian Aid’s faith-based partners will present reports on the specific role of faith organisations in the fight against HIV, while other partner organisations will be sharing their experiences of dealing with the disease in post-conflict countries.

Twenty million people have become infected with HIV in the last decade, underscoring the need to build effective health systems in developing countries.

It also illustrates the ongoing need for comprehensive HIV prevention programmes. The knowledge and the tools to prevent new infections and prolong life already exist.

|QUOTE|The challenge is to make sure that HIV treatment and prevention programmes are available to all who need them, even in the poorest settings.

“It is deeply worrying that HIV has reached this point,” says Dr Rachel Baggaley, Christian Aid’s HIV head. “Last year’s huge focus on Africa, which was so encouraging, seems to have disappeared.

“If governments do not understand that they must deliver on their financial pledges we will never be able to overcome this epidemic.”

Some 4,500 reports will be presented at the conference. Christian Aid will present its new SAVE (Safer practices, Available medications, Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), Empowerment) approach to HIV prevention.

A Christian Aid photo exhibition ‘Life Interrupted’ is on display in the conference centre, which is a series of photographs by the award-winning photojournalist, Don McCullin.

The XVI international AIDS conference will be held until 18 August.