Registration is now open for the HIV Continuum of Care Forum, a showcase of innovative and promising practices from Catholic Relief Services’ care, treatment, and support programs around the world.

This two-day meeting will convene September 15 and 16, 2009, at the AED Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Registration is free, and CRS invites practitioners, policy makers, donors, and researchers to join our staff and a number of current program beneficiaries in discussing the continuum of care for HIV and AIDS.

Catholic Relief Services initiated its first HIV and AIDS program in 1986 in Bangkok, Thailand. CRS now has HIV programming in 62 countries across Africa and the hardest-hit regions of Asia and Latin America. CRS supports more than 280 HIV and AIDS projects in the poorest and most vulnerable areas of the developing world, with a total expenditure of $170 million in 2009 alone. This year, CRS will help nearly 24 million people affected by the pandemic—more than 8 million directly and nearly 16 million indirectly.

CRS programming in HIV and AIDS has evolved to help individuals, families and communities as they struggle through the physical, economic, social and emotional devastation of the disease. Dignity and quality of life are at the heart of CRS HIV and AIDS programming. We also work to reduce the spread of the disease by addressing its fundamental causes and helping everybody understand the causes and options available to help reduce transmission of the disease. Through our vast network of local partners— including Catholic, governmental, and other faith-based and private organizations—we can support people and communities as they fight to stem the tide of this pandemic.

For details and online registration, visit the meeting webpage.