THE NEXT HEALTH FRONTIER-AIDS/HIV

 This disease is ravenging the emerging Nations in Africa and the and has done a number on the Western World over the past decade or two. On Tuesday April 30th we had the distinct pleasure in hearing a presentation from the foremost AIDS/HIV Research Doctor in BC. Dr Julio Montaner.

One would guess that a top level research doctor would present a boring fact laden talk that would be a few thousand feet over our layman heads but not Dr. Julio Montaner for sure he gave us lots of numbers showing how the Aids/HIV epidemic had reached super high levels in Vancouver by 1996. But then he showed and told us about HAART which was presented at the Aids conference in Vancouver in 1996. This protocol was launched in Vancouver and in the years since the reduction in new cases of AIDS/HIV in Vancouver has dropped to an astounding low level. Incidence rate dropped 80% Death rate dropped 90% and provided one is on the plan their life and life expectancy in Normal.  In BC they have the backing of the Health Authority and the treatment is available free to any one who needs it. Like Polio this is the initial beach-head they now aspire to spread it across the country and around the world. The Objective is to rid the world of HIV/Aids in the next generation.

A tremendous presentation from one of the worlds top Doctors. We now have to seriously look at where ROTARY can help.. We are nearly complete with Polio and this is probably the most life threatening disease along with Sanitation and clean water that is needed to improve life and life expectency PERIOD.

For more in depth information just Google HAART or start at the WHO(World Health Organization) http://www.who.int/topics/antiretroviral_therapy/en/

Ed Landry presents Dr Julio Montaner with a token of our appreciation for taking the time to be with us.