'Overcoming inequality: women and HIV-an international imperative' is focus for international women's day symposium on March 8th

The UCSF AIDS Research Institute will sponsor a symposium addressing the need to consider gender inequality and to incorporate both economic and educational initiatives for women into efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The symposium will open with the announcement of a new initiative for preventing the spread of HIV. The symposium and the announcement will take place on International Women's Day, March 8, 2001. The program is as follows:

• The Social and Economic Context of Women's Risk for HIV A Five Point Plan Offering an Essential New Approach for Prevention: Nancy Padian, PhD, Director of International Programs, UCSF AIDS Research Institute and the Center for Global Research on Women's Health

• Keynote Address: A Matter of Life and Death: Women, Inequality, and HIV/AIDS: Geeta Rao Gupta, PhD, President, International Center for Research on Women, Washington, DC

• "A Dream Deferred: Africa's AIDS Crisis", Excerpts from the CNN Documentary: Introduced, and then discussed live from Johannesburg with Charlayne Hunter-Gault, correspondent for the documentary and CNN bureau chief, Johannesburg, South Africa.

• HIV and Women: The South African Challenge: Kim E. Dickson-Tetteh, BSc, MBChB, MScMCH, DFFP, Public Health Physician, Reproductive Health Research Unit, University of Witswaterand, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

• HIV in Zimbabwe: One Woman's Story: Prisca Nyakumtombwa, Counselor and woman living with HIV, Harare, Zimbabwe

• The Center for Young Women's Development: A Model Program for Young Women at:Risk: Marlene Sanchez, Director of Programs, Center for Young Women's Development, San Francisco

• Closing Address: The Center for Global Research on Women's Health: Nancy Padian, PhD, Director of International Programs, UCSF AIDS Research Institute and the Center for Global Research on Women's Health

Media who would like to cover the UCSF International Women's Day Symposium or arrange interviews should call Jeff Sheehy in the UCSF News Office at 415-597-8165.

LOCATION:
The Westin St. Francis
2nd Floor, California West Conference Room
335 Powell Street, San Francisco