Progress at Montreal AIDS conference despite visa problems, organizers say

MONTREAL — A major AIDS conference in Montreal highlighted the tremendous advances being made in HIV research and brought scientists and activists together despite visa challenges, organizers say.

dr Jean-Pierre Routy, local co-chair of the AIDS 2022 conference, said the biggest breakthrough presented was the research showing that a single injection of a long-acting antiretroviral drug can protect people from HIV infection for two months, by replacing pills daily.

Other research, presented at the five-day conference that ended Tuesday, showed that a cure for HIV is possible and that steps are being taken toward it, although progress is slow, he said.

“The progress in knowledge is enormous. It has not yet led to treatments today, but we are getting closer,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

But as the conference ended, speakers frequently mentioned visa delays and refusals, which prevented hundreds of delegates from attending, including people scheduled to present at the conference and staff from the International AIDS Society, the association of HIV professionals who run the conference organized.

Routy said he was “disappointed” with the Canadian government, but people from 172 countries could have attended and the majority of participants were from developing countries.

Tinashe Rufurwadzo, director of programs, management and governance at Y+ Global, an international organization of HIV-positive youth, said that while the conference had great exchanges, some young activists were missing.

“It’s a bittersweet thing. We managed to get in touch with people personally, but there are other critical voices that we missed at this conference,” he said.

Participants were able to meet government officials and pharmaceutical executives, which young activists might otherwise not be able to do.

“The only place we can reach them is here, when we’re going to get coffee after the sessions, which means when people are easy to reach,” he said.

While the conference was conducted in a hybrid fashion, with most sessions being viewable online by remote attendees, Rufurwadzo said high data costs in many African countries limited access and that those attending virtually were not able to be as comprehensive to participate as those who participated person.

Routy said the conference is also an opportunity to push for change in Canada.

On Monday, the federal government announced $17.9 million to increase access to HIV testing in remote communities and among hard-to-reach populations.

“This money is very welcome and going where our system has had weaknesses and it’s still a great achievement by Canada, even if it’s a bit late,” Routy said. “What matters is that things are changing and that this conference leads to a change in mentality.”

About half of this goes into the distribution of self-tests.

Those who know their HIV status can access treatment to protect themselves and prevent passing the virus on to their partners, Routy said.

Shamin Mohamed Jr., the founder and president of LetsStopAIDS, a Toronto-based nonprofit focused on youth, said having access to self-testing will help young people know their HIV status.

However, he said there are still unanswered questions about how the organizations that will be distributing the tests will support those who test positive.

“If someone tests positive, does that give them the emotional support they need?” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

HIV testing also needs to be normalized, he said, adding that he fears young people could be thrown out of their homes if their parents find a self-test kit.

While self-testing can reach young people who would not otherwise be tested for HIV, support is needed to ensure people who test positive know how to access treatment and that the costs do not put them out of reach.

As German Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos prepared to address the final session of the conference, a group of protesters criticized the lack of follow-up funds as part of the expansion of self-testing.

More than 9,000 people were expected to attend the five-day conference in person, with an additional 2,000 people registered online to attend.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 2, 2022.

Jacob Serebrin, The Canadian Press