9-13 August, 2009

BALI INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE (BICC)
NUSA DUA, BALI,
INDONESIA.

THEME: ‘Empowering People, Strengthening Networks’.

The trip was a worthwhile and educational exposure for the whole team that went and participated in the plenary, oral, poster presentations, satellite meetings, and skills building workshop, symposia, Asia Pacific village and the Congress field trips.

The team consisted of Dr Apa, Dr Frank, Dr Wari, Dr Mondurafa and Mr Wai. We were accommodated at the beautiful Grand Hyatt hotel and our travel allowance was used to cover for our meals, transportation and emergency use as was in the case of the three of us that lost our baggage (Drs Frank and Wari and Mr Wai).

THE BALI 09 TEAM

(From  L to R) –Mr Wai , Dr Apa , Dr Mondurafa , Tour guide and Dr Wari. Dr Frank was taking the photo.

The meeting began with an opening at Lotus Pond; Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural park proceeded by a dinner. The President of Indonesia officially opened the congress.

The five days were divided into a combined Plenary session from 0845 to 1030 hours than community forums from 1045 to 1915 hours at night. The days were generally very busy for us running in between the different sessions that were of interest.

We attended sessions that covered areas in Political commitment for HIV programmes, PPTCT programmes , HIV/AIDS planning sessions , Clinical updates of HIV, HIV/AIDS programmes in resource poor settings, and responses of both governments and NGO’s in combating HIV/AIDS in the region.

It was very difficult to attend all the sessions as they were all important and very educational.

We were not able to take the field trips as they coincided with our presentations.

The group presented a poster presentation on the Self help projects being undertaken by the Clinton Foundation and the Compassionate care in PPTCT leads to retention in Paediatrics. Our Clinton Colleagues from Port Moresby spoke on the PMGH PPTCT experience and the Early infant diagnosis in PNG as well as the ART data management system in PNG.

Key lessons learnt at the Congress were:

1. Good PPTCT programme can lead to reduced HIV in the population
2. Data management is very vital in assessing how programmes are going and for patient management and care.
3. People of all groups such as gays , lesbians, homosexuals, drug users, PLWHA, commercial sex workers, clinicians ,scientists, politicians, administrative groups , pathologists, radiologists must work together to combat the illness.
4. There is a new vaccine being trialed in Thailand.
5. Goroka’s protocols are that of those which have been proven to work
6. We need to understand the epidemic and strengthen prevention efforts.
7. Strengthening partnership for treatment, care and support.
8. HIV/AIDS in Context: Understanding and addressing Socio-Cultural, Economic and political determinants
9. Leadership and broadening the response.

RECOMMENDATION:

1. Strengthen our PPTCT programme in Goroka.
2. Keep very good data and manage it accordingly.
3. Learn to work with all stakeholders in the community.
4. Empowering our staff to do research and present in country and internationally.
5. Keep abreast with the latest clinical management through our association with Clinton Foundation.
6. Keeping management aware of benefits of such gatherings.
   Implementing what we as a group have picked up in areas of clinical and management.

We would like to thank the Clinton Foundation for sponsoring the trip.

For the Bali Team.

Dr Paul WARI
Paediatric Registrar.