At The Aids 2008 Conference!

The 2008 AIDS Conference in Mexico City was an exciting experience in many ways.I was able to meet my colleague Jennifer Ruwart and her husband,Shawn and baby,Jonah for the first time,face to face! How exciting that was!With her family and Anne-Christine D'Adesky the Women's Networking Zone became our World Pulse/PulseWire home! We were able to be in touch with and register many people on PulseWire,mostly women.

There were lots of topics for discussion on issues of HIV/AIDS,at a very broad level.Other issues whose address would keep in check the spread of HIV/AIDS included recognition of groups such as: Commercial Sex Workers,Gay Community,Human Rights Activists,and others all asking to be given their respect and rights by Governments and communities.

As for the People Living With Aids,the most powerful message that i picked up was \"STOP THE DISEASE,NOT ME!\"This must have sent a sound notice to the 67 countries that were listed for not respecting the rights of this community in one way or the other,and those who stigmatize the sickness and it's holders.

I was also able to learn that safety was felt in numbers,especially when i attended the pre-Conference Living 2008,whose participats were all HIV+.It was a conference full of sharing and exchanging of ideas.Here participants mostly pushed for Equal Access To Treatment for all.

I did a few Press Conferences,and give a presentation at the \"Fighting AIDS under Fire\" Session.

I was also able to meet my friends from Canada,Leah,Louise and Brian,who i was not able to meet in person as had been planned earlier due to the Post-election skirmishes in Kenya.I met my long-time friend Karen Zwickert too.Also friends from Kenya,Rwanda and The US who i had only been communicating with via the internet!

I also met some of my colleagues in the PulseWire Community!

The journey gave me many lessons,and friends.I hope we will be able to share all these lessons here on PulseWire!

Anne-Christine D'Adesky and Jennifer Ruwart and family,my special appreciation to you for all the support at this very busy venue!

Asante Sana!

Leah.