Introduction

We are pleased to announce the 6th Annual Conference of the Children’s HIV Association. The conference is taking place at the Lakeside Centre in Birmingham and we are pleased that Sally Scott from Birmingham Heartlands Hospital has been able to accept our invitation to be our Local Host at the conference.

I would like to thank all our speakers who have agreed to present their work at this conference. I am certain that their experience and expertise will benefit all who are in attendance.

We are excited that the Annual Conference programme in 2012 will include a healthy discussion and debate as to whether or not the HIV diagnosis should be disclosed on the first appointment. In addition, there will be lectures looking at when to start HIV treatment and updates on vaccine-preventable infections, research trials in the UK, and the recent NCB report on adolescent transition.

The afternoon sessions will include a discussion about new drugs and their use in PMTCT and, in addition, a lecture looking at whether or not we need to worry about antenatal ART and prematurity. Also, we very much hope that amongst the highlights of the conference will be the presentations from the young people who serve as members of the CHIVA Youth Committee as well as an interactive case presentation session which will highlight some difficult cases that we have had to face here in the UK over the last year.

We feel sure that these sessions will prove to be very topical as well as raise some interesting points to be debated and discussed. The CHIVA AGM will be held at the end of lunch and prior to the afternoon plenary sessions and I would encourage all members to attend this meeting as it provides a forum to present any points which they may have to the CHIVA officers and members of the Executive Committee.

As is now customary, we will be inviting submissions of abstracts for oral and poster presentation at this year’s event. This will enable delegates to keep abreast of important research and projects that we have not had the opportunity to cover as part of the conference plenary programme. Please refer to the appropriate pages of the Announcement for further information.

A CHIVA Dinner with entertainment is to be held in Birmingham and the venue has yet to be confirmed. The dinner will commence at 20:00 on Thursday 17 May, the evening prior to the conference. I would urge everyone to sign up for this event and enter it in their diary.

I hope very much that you will all enjoy the conference and find it of relevance to both your educational and your practical needs.

Best wishes
Dr Steve Welch
Chair
Children’s HIV Association