Speaking today at the opening of the UNAIDS-Caritas Internationalis HIV Treatment meeting at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski spoke in support of expanding access to HIV treatment worldwide.
Archbishop Zimowski called for the implementation of Treatment 2015, the framework developed by UNAIDS to expand access to life-saving HIV treatment to 15 million people living with the disease.
Dr. Julio Montaner, director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, addressed the delegation today. He applauded the Archbishop and the Vatican for speaking in support of expanding Treatment as Prevention.
Also speaking at the conference was Dr. Luiz Loures, Assistant Secretary General, United Nations, and Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS. Approximately 100 participants are attending the two-day meeting. Delegates represent diverse Christian faith traditions, UNAIDS, Vatican offices, governments, the medical and scientific community, and the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.
Dr. Luiz Loures (left), Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski (centre), and Dr. Julio Montaner at UNAIDS-Caritas Internationalis meeting in Rome, Italy.