Invitation to a National HIV/AIDS Treatment Congress Hosted by the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the Treatment Action Campaign 27--29 June 2002 Durban South Africa Prevent New Infections! Save Lives! Improve Access to Treatment! The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Treatment Action Campaign invite you to attend a National HIV/AIDS Treatment Congress. This historic Congress aims to unify Trade Unions, NGO's, AIDS service organisations, religious groups, health-care workers, scientists, businesses and government on the need for an emergency treatment plan to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Unless we create unity around a plan of action, millions of lives will be lost. The National HIV/AIDS Treatment Congress aims to build common purpose between civil society and government. The National Treatment Plan, which the Congress will debate, is intended to strengthen the government's HIV/AIDS and STD Strategic Plan for South Africa 2000-2005. The Objectives of the Congress are to: * Develop practical strategies to support government in the implementation of the Cabinet Statement on HIV/AIDS of 17th April 2002. * Develop practical strategies to implement resolutions taken on HIV/AIDS, STI's, TB and antiretroviral therapy by the National Health Summit in November 2001. * Identify needs of the public health sector and health workers and strategies to meet these needs. * Develop a consensus platform on treating HIV/AIDS - identifying roles, responsibilities and campaigns. The congress is hosted by TAC and COSATU. It is also supported by the Aids Consortium, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the Southern African HIV/AIDS Clinicians Society and the Anglican Church. Queries -- contact Joyce. Email: treatment@mweb.co.za Phone: 012 460 6451 Cell: 073 173 2715 (Country code is 27)