Recife - The city of Olinda, Pernambuco, in Northeastern Brazil, will host the First Brazilian Congress on AIDS, together with the V Congress on Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and the V Congress of the Society of Sexually Transmitted Diseases between August 29 and September 1.

All these events will take place simultaneously and will be supported by the Ministry of Health and other institutions, such as Unicef. The inaugurual ceremony will be presided over by the Minister of Health, Humberto Costa, and the president of the Brazilian Interdisciplinary AIDS Association, Richard Parker.

According to one of the organizers, Maria Luiza Menezes, the idea is to make proposals for ensuring that people enjoy sexual and reproductive health. The event is expected to attract some 4,000 participants who will discuss problems related to the social stigmas and discrimination AIDS positive people face, along with new drugs and treatment for HIV.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Márcia Wonghon
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/26/2004