Dear Colleagues,

Greeting from Iran.I agree with the content of the subjected mail.Also I admire
the efforts,knowledge and dedication of my dear friend and colleague Dr.Minoo
Mohraz who as a poinneer along time is trying to promote the awareness about
HIV&AIDS in Iran.

I would like to inform you that on World AIDS Day 2005 the People'es Health
Movement(PHM) of Iran after contributing in the WAD founction organized by the
Ministry of Health of Iran and joinning a group of NGOs&Civil societies in a
street awareness campaign ended to a gathring in the DANESHJOO PARK(Center of
Tehran), have organized a Pannel Conference at 3;00 Oclock afternoon in
Conferenc Hall of School of Rehabilitation.

The panelist were Dr.Minoo Mohraz(She kindly accepted The invitation of PHM
Iran),Dr.Yeganneh,Dr.Doulatabadi(Chairperson) and Dr.M.A.Barzegar(myself as
Representative of PHM Iran). Dr.Mohraz spoke about the HIV&AIDS situation in
Iran,Dr.Yeganneh disscussed about the nature of the diseaes and rout of the
transmission.

I have spoken about the history of AIDS and its silent Epidemy
in 1970 and the diagnosis of the first case of HIV positive in 1981 in United
States.I warned the audiences and the government that the tragedy is enormous.
Because in 1981 we had one diagnosed HIV positive as a source of infection
(eventhough there was some undiagnosed one) after 24 years we have got 65
million(40 million alive and 25 million died) cases or in otherword 65 million
times the infection was increased. Now days according to WHO we
have about 40 million cases of HIV&AIDS.You immagine what will happen if we do
not do enough from today.And I emphesized the Name of the game is today and not
tomorrow.

Also i have mentioned that the roots of all ills is poverty, and just do not
think that African&Asian people's sexual behaviour
is very much different from other parts of the world that the prevalence of the
disease in these two poor continet is 1/thousand while in Europe or in US is
0.001. Because already due to poverty, malnutrition and other socio-economic
stress the immunity of the people in Africa(with 25 million casesHIV&AIDs) and
Asia is low and the disease wich itself is paralysing the immune system can much
easier to spread than in affluent country.

I should refer here to a Brilliant Lady Alison Katz who thinks that an
alternative strategy is required to combat AIDS and not the Neo-Lib ralistic way
of thinking that AIDS is a behaviour issue and we should advise abstinence.
Furthermore I brouth to the kind attention of the meeting that an AIDS cases is
a patient and needs special care and supporting environment(affection,security
in job,housing ,food and medicine).

At the end an HIV positive young man who is heading an allied NGOS(Rangin Kaman)
of PHM Iran spoke about the HIV positive people in Iran. I have taken the
opportunity and after his speech went to th scene and shaked hand with him as
well as according to our Iranian culture kissed him warmly and have shown to
audience that HIV/AIDS will not be transmitted by non sexual &non bloody
contact.

The audience raised alots of questions and Madam Chair distributed to the
pannelist and the members of Pannel including Dr.Minoo Mohraz kindly answered
all the questions.The conference ended at 7.30
evenning.It was a great day and thanks to Dr.Doulatabady,Special thanks to
Dr.Minoo Mohraz and Dr.Yaganneh and My colleagues from PHM Iran who dedicately
organized the WAD 2005 from 8.00 oclock in the morning till to 19.30 evenning
for upgrading the awareness and support people with HIV&AIDS in Iran.

Needless to say that the topic of the conference was AIDS,Women,Violence,Poverty
and Drugs.

Warmest regards.

Dr.M.A.Barzegar PHM
Iran.
E-mail: <m_barzgar@...>