IAC 2008 opening ceremony

AUGUST 3rd 2008

The opening ceremony day of the IAC 2008… Every one was excited to see the conference opened and also that mood of big conference we have been prepared to get in for the last 7 days.
I was on call…basically that means it was my shift to wake up action partners at 7ham… I was just reminded by Mercy‘s phone call that it was already 7h30am and she hasn’t yet received the wake up call..I am very sorry guys about this. We went out last night for the youth reception which was awesome and we had so much fun then went to sleep late…I put on the alarm and didn’t help .. Sorry again guys…that’s made the team loose at least 30 golden minutes.
After breakfast taken at our hotel as usual, We headed to the conference venue. We had a small team meeting at our booth stand which is No 240 in the Global Village and after the meeting we started making things ready at our booth. Every thing was set up on Saturday but we just needed a make up of the stand to make it look nice and more attractive.

To understand the beauty of OIYP stand at IAC 2008 you just need to come and see it but you gonna have the privilege to see how it is looking like by checking some of pictures.
The beauty is made up by that diversity of people from 15 countries that speak one language…OIYP…. To tell more than 15 stories on how they have been working to empower their respective community to fight against HIV and AIDS … Did I have mentioned that the OIYP stand is the most professionally and carefully designed, dynamic and most welcoming one?
You can disagree with me but I don’t think that would be the opinion of the people who are attending the IAC 2008 who visited the Global village today. The OIYP stand was crowded the whole day. But there is no way, every one who just sees it, cannot walk away without paying a short visit. With Sylvia playing with those finger puppets , an unique opportunity for the visitors to sign up for the young people message board or give a message to young people with those voice cards, sign up for the FOR ALL Oxfam campaign or just have a chance to learn in just 5 minutes how APs working on HIV and AIDS from Solomon islands, Kenya, Palestine, Canada, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Venezuela, Dominican republic, Somalia, Fiji, South Korea, etc are making difference in their communities . And people are provided by difference sorts of learning materials, posters made by the APs, Power point presentation played, leaflets, CDs, DVDs, and most importantly the privilege to meet and talk to those APs face to face. What another wonderful experience you can expect from a such a big conference if it is not to meet and talk to wonderful people who with their little effort they are making huge impact in their community. They should thank Oxfam Australia who made that possible and we APs we are very grateful to Oxfam Australia who provided us that opportunity to come here in Mexico to learn, share, network, etc...
Some people stayed at the Booth to welcome and talk to visitors but also people had time to go and explore and be familiar with the conference venue or attend some sessions that were going on.

They visited also other stands and learn from what others people are doing on HIV and AIDS.. .Myself I visited that stand of CARE international and I meet that lady..Theresa who is the Program Director of RIGHT TO PLAY , a program I am interested in since we have been using sport as a way to circulate message on HIV and AIDS among youth. I talked to her and I was surprised to learn that they have just started some projects in some parts of Rwanda. She is going to link me with the coordinator of their program in Rwanda and explore ways of partnership. I also wanted to know what is new in HIV/AIDS anti retroviral drugs and visited MSD stand. It is a pharmaceutical company. They have developed a new drug called Raltegravir and according to the information they provided me with, it sounds great. Unfortunately they couldn’t talk to me about the price since they have a sessions tomorrow where they will discuss about it.
We had to meet at 3h30 at the OIYP booth to plan how we gonna attend the opening ceremony of the IAC that was going to take place at Auditio nacianale like 20 minutes bus drive from centro banamex which is the main conference venue.
Some decided to stay at the booth and kindly accept to carry our bags home since we were told that bags will not be allowed at the opening ceremony venue for security reasons. We also sang a song for Allan (Oxfam Australia office in South africa)since today is his birthday…

The opening ceremony was going to be demanding… security measures were tough no drinks no food allowed in the auditorium and you could just have a look on the program…13 successive speeches??? My GOD..oh yes..you will have to listen to this people..
It started with those great performances of indigenous people and other Mexican dance and music at then bye bye bye to the fun time…time for speeches..

Speeches were informative and very good but you know it is not easy not stay concentrated listening to 13 successive speeches. Some people started to sleep after the first 5 speeches.
The speakers stressed on the understanding of HIV AIDS as a medical, social justice, human rights ,equity and development issue.
Dr Peter Piot the Executive Director of UNAIDS said that we have now results about the disease. We have clinical and epidemiological evidences that prove that prevention and a treatment of HIV/AIDS is possible…what is lacking…UNIVERSAL ACTIONS NOW…
We had many speakers including the Vice president of Spain who pledged his government to put 10.200.00Euros in UNAIDS and more millions in researches, etc
Ban Kim moon the Secretary General of UN pledged his effort to make sure governments establish laws and practices that protect men who have sex with men, sex workers and drugs users,to make sure UN member states delivers on AIDS in term of funding, etc..
Many speakers congratulated President Bush for renewing and signing last Wednesday the PEPFAR funding and Global Fund for the coming 5 years( 48 billions $US)
The IAC 2008 was officially opened by his Excellency the president of the federal state of Mexico (Calderon)

After the opening ceremony we were exhausted. It was around 10h20pm.In the bus, on the way back to the hotel, I met those interesting senor from Puerto Rica, Josee and Jorge who are working with the health Minister of Pueto Rica in the center for AIDS and communicable disease and we exchanged about the status of AIDS and the health care systems in our respective countries. Back to the hotel, we had a short team meeting to sort out things for tomorrow, every one was very very tired. It was a long, interesting and very busy day…

by Edmond Baganizi (bageddy@gmail.com)
AP from Rwanda