APPACHA; Invitation for a Panel Discussion and Launch of SOLIDARITY+ Newsletter

[Guest guest]

Dear E Forum Members,

We are happy to inform you that Asia Pacific People’s Alliance for Combating

HIV/AIDS (APPACHA) is organising a panel discussion on the theme “Patents and

Access to Medicines” on 11 June 2005 (Saturday) at 4 PM. in Conference Room 1,

India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi.

We request you to be our distinguished participant for the panel discussion and

launch of ‘Solidarity+’, a bimonthly newsletter of APPACHA.

Kindly confirm your presence and active participation for the same. The

programme agenda and formal invitation would be shortly sent. We are enclosing a

note on APPACHA as an attachment for your kind perusal.

Asia Pacific People’s Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS (APPACHA)

Background

Asia Pacific People’s Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS (APPACHA) is a

multisectoral alliance which includes people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS,

health activists, community groups, faith-based agencies, human rights agencies,

student movements, policy makers, researchers, programme managers and trade

unions that share a commitment to combat the causes and the consequences of

HIV/AIDS. APPACHA members would be engaged in and informed by dialogue on

emerging areas related to HIV/AIDS issues in Asia. This would open up

opportunities to contribute to and influence HIV/AIDS prevention and care

policies and programmes.

The need of the hour is to look at the HIV/AIDS epidemic and respond to the

requirements of the most vulnerable sections across geographical boundaries. As

against regional efforts concentrating on smaller pockets, Alliances are

effective mechanisms to expand the response towards the prevention and

mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS by developing effective advocacy, empirical

knowledge and gathering and sharing technical expertise. It was with this vision

and commitment that the APPACHA was launched in Bangkok on 9 July 2004, during

the XV International AIDS Conference.

APPACHA Newsletter

Carrying forward this vision — Solidarity+ — the bi-monthly newsletter of

APPACHA was visualised. It is expected to serve as an effective tool to address

contemporary socio-political and economic trends in Asia and Pacific regions on

HIV/AIDS.

With warm regards,

G. Mahesh

Co-ordinator HIV/AIDS Cell,

ActionAid International – Asia

91, II Floor, Navjeevan Vihar, New Delhi – 110 017

Tele Fax: +91-11-26691993/ 94 Extn. 41

Email: gmahesht@...