Senegal Traditional Healing and HIV/AIDS Conference, 07/04

20-21 July, 2004
Dakar, Senegal

We are pleased to inform you that, in association with the Government of the Republic of Senegal and ENDA TM, we shall host our 4th International Conference & Exhibition on Traditional Medicine under the theme: "Traditional Healing & HIV/AIDS" at Hotel Meridien President, Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. This conference was originally slated for July 2002 but had to be postponed because of September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks on the world.

The objectives of the 2 days plenary conference are:

(a) To update the world on the current situation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, its trends, social and cultural impacts, in order to ascertain the needs and appropriate areas of intervention for the future;

(b) To determine the role of traditional healers in the fight against HIV/AIDS, based on successes achieved, issues of prevention, education, research and ethics;

(c) To foster constructive dialogue and education between practitioners of conventional medicine and traditional medicine;

(d) To promote better understanding of traditional healing practices in various social and cultural backgrounds; and

(e) To stimulate alliances and networking between traditional healers associations around the globe.

Below are some of the speakers and the topics they would discuss at the conference:

1) Searching For Anti-HIV Agents Among The Traditional Medicines Dr. Masao Hattori, Department of Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical & Pharmaceutical University, Japan.

2) Cure & Prevention Of HIV/AIDS Infected People In Africa Dr. Jean-Pierre Coulaud, Director of the French Institute of Tropical Medicine & African Epidemiology, Director of Tropical Health Department Xavier Bichat Faculte-University of Paris, Director of WHO Collaborating Center for STD (Institute Alfred Fournier) France and Professor of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Public Health USA.

3) Dr. Mariza Morgado, Senior Scientist, Department of Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Brazil;

4) Botanical Identification of Medicinal Plants Used In The Treatment of HIV/AIDS And Malaria In Masaiti and Mpongwe Districts, Zambia Mr. Joseph Mthetwa, Senior Scientist, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Department of Clinical Sciences, Traditional Medicine Research Unit. (Currently working with WHO AFRO in Harare to evaluate Traditional Medicine used to treat HIV/AIDS and Malaria), Zambia;

5) Integrating Traditional Medicine Into Modern (Orthodox) Medicine: One of the Biggest African Challenges at the Beginning of the 21st Century
Dr. G.A. Balint, WHO Expert, Head, Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, Dept of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Hungary

6) (1) History of the HIV/AIDS alternative movement in the United States (2) Summary of RCTs of Natural Medicines In HIV/AIDS Patients (3) Promising areas of research: (a) Garlic/NK cell activity; (b) Combination antiviral botanical therapy; (c) Ultrahigh dilutional cytokine
Dr. Leanna J. Standish, Senior Scientist, Bastyr University AIDS Research Center, Washington, USA.

7) A Primary T Cell Model To Study The Regulation of HIV Replication and Persistence
Dr. Celsa Spina, Associate Adjunct Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA.

8) Therapy In AIDS Maintenance of Health of HIV/AIDS Patients Dr. Angha S. Kulkarni, Aids Ayurvedic Care & Counselling Charitable Center, India.

9) The Integration of Traditional Medicine Into Conventional Medical Education
Dr. Ellen Tattelman, Associate Professor, Albert Einstien College of Medicine, New York, USA.

10) The role of traditional medicine in HIV treatment and prevention in the United States Native American population Dr. Ben Muneta, President of the Association of American Indian Physicians, Oklahoma, USA.

11) Effect Of Acupuncture And Herbal Medicines On Immunological Response In Humans
Dr. J. Federico Rivas V, Specialty in Acupuncture and Phytotherapy, Head, Department of Health Sciences, Metropolitan Autonomous University-Iztapalapa, Mexico.

12) The Role of Traditional African Healers in the Fight Against STDís, HIV and AIDS in South Africa Ms. Rebecca Rogerson, Traditional Healer, South Africa

This list would be updated along with relevant information as and when we receive abstracts of the remaining resource persons who have indicated their willingness to participate.

Additional information can be found at:
<A href="http://www.africa-first.com/4thICTM.asp">http://www.africa-first.com/4thICTM.asp</A>

This conference is open to administrators, practitioners, educators and students of modern and ancient medicine from Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America and South America relating to HIV/AIDS and other ailments.

Part of the event would be the displays of the ancient and modern sciences and arts of healing diseases, and the exhibition of pharmaceutical properties, herbs and plants of medicinal values used in the cure of various ailments, especially HIV/AIDS, by practitioners from remote regions of the world.

The overall objectives of the conference are to:

(a) Assemble modern and indigenous doctors, nurses, students and exhibitors, who are currently engaged in conventional and alternative health administration, practices, services, and studies, among the worldís diverse populations, for presentations, discussions and exchange of real life experiences and knowledge in medicine and healthcare relating to HIV/AIDS;

(b) Generate a pool of invaluable scientific findings to enhance medical education, scientific research and the provision of healthcare in HIV/AIDS related settings; and

(c) Share the findings with interested governmental and nongovernmental agencies, institutions of learning and practice of medicine for possible integration into public health policies and global health education.

We respectfully invite the African Networks for Health Research &amp; Development (AFRO-NETS), its members, associates and affiliates everywhere in the world, to participate in this conference in order to share their experiences and benefit from the experiences of other resource persons on the issues of HIV/AIDS as to how the epidemic could be eliminated and prevented.

We shall also be grateful to receive the assistance of the African Networks for Health Research &amp; Development, its members, associates and affiliates everywhere in the world in spreading news about this conference through any means possible to give opportunity to all concerned about the threats of HIV/AIDS to attend.

J.William Danquah, President/CEO
Africa First, LLC
517 Asbury Street 11, St. Paul, MN 55104, USA Tel: +1-651-646-4721
Fax: +1-651-644-3235
E-mail:info@africa-first.com>