Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from 12 European countries met in Kinsale in Co Cork today to discuss the increase in HIV infections around the world.
Organised by the Alliance Centre for Sexual Health the conference was held today - Irish AIDS day - ahead of a UN meeting in New York next week which will discuss the supply of treatment to African countries where there is a particularly high AIDS incidence.
The conference is to examine the new challenges with the needs of those with HIV changing because of new treatments. The network of organisations also hopes to combine experiences to improve the services offered for those with HIV and AIDS.
"There are less people with HIV becoming involved in HIV organisations because people want to get on with their lives following new treatments," a spokesperson for the alliance told ireland.com. "We want to improve people's involvement and make the organisations more effective by working together."
The Government also marked Irish AIDS say with a commitment to prioritise AIDS as a health issue in the light of the increase in reported HIV cases in this country.
Minister of State for Health Dr Tom Moffatt said efforts must be renewed to create "a greater awareness of the risk factors linked with HIV and aimed at preventing people becoming infected."
"Progress to date has been achieved through successful partnership between statutory and voluntary agencies and also involving people with HIV.
"I look forward to this continuing partnership in the challenging work ahead off us," said Dr Moffatt.
Earlier today workd debt campaigners joined Cork AIDS Alliance on the streets of Cork city to highlight the need for cancelling developing countries' debt in light of the high incidence of HIV/AIDS in heavily indebted countries.