Caribbean delegates were last Friday expressing optimism over a possible cure for the HIV/AIDS virus as they were preparing to return home following the weeklong 16th International Conference on AIDS.

Program manager of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against AIDS (PANCAP Edward Emmanuel, described the conference as "useful".

"We received some good reports on the development of microbicides and it looks as if we're on the right track with our comprehensive focus regarding our national and regional aids programs," he said.

The Guyana based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) official said it was also important for the Caribbean to take on board the various appeals made during the week long conference for behavior change as a means of coping with the spread of the AIDS pandemic.

"There is nothing wrong with having sex -- whether it's heterosexual or hojosexual. What is critical is behavior. If you engage in sexual intercourse and you do not know the status of your partner, it is important that you protect yourself," said Emmanuel.

He said that while it is important that the principles and values of Caribbean people, with reference to hojosexuality, be understood, it is important to understand that the stigma and discrimination that often accompany the execution of these values propel the further spread of the disease.

"This was mentioned during one of the sessions in which PANCAP participated --stigma, discrimination, homophobia and lack of access of marginalized groups to treatment, care and prevention of the disease. If we are interested in saving people's lives, we have to take the provisions and address these particular issues," he said.

Behavioral change was a major topic during the conference which opened last Sunday.

Microsoft founder and philanthropist, Bill Gates and former US President, Bill Clinton appeared together to discuss their priorities for ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Clinton emphasized the need to fight stigma.

"If there is aggressive effort against stigma and an absolute guarantee you'll have the medicine, the cure you need, then we could have more people know their status, and I think more people would be willing to do whatever is necessary not to infect others," said Clinton.

"I don't see how we're ever going to catch up if people aren't at least aware they could be giving the virus to other people."

Though the conference, which drew an estimated 25,000 people, was not marked by news of any major scientific breakthroughs, the overall sentiment was that it gave hope.

"We learned that within a year there will be report on whether microbisides will be effective against the disease," Emmanuel said.

The research into the development of microbicides, a vaginal cream women will be able to use prior to intercourse to prevent getting infected with HIV/AIDS, was reported as being far from over.

Timeframes that ranged from 10 to 25 years were mentioned by researchers.

"Until then we will not now what direction that research is heading. But assuming that microbicides will be effective, it will be important that the people who need it have access to it. It will need to be affordable effective and affordable," Emmanuel said.

"I am jumping the gun a bit, but CARICOM will no doubt take a similar approach as the one we took in Barcelona in 2002 to get a reduction in the price of antiretroviral drugs."

PANCAP had recently brokered a deal with several pharmaceutical companies that made ARV's available to people living with HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and Emmanuel said PANCAP would pursue similar arrangements once the microbicides were cleared for use on humans.

"The research reports sounded very positive," he said."

He said his organization would return to the Caribbean with renewed energy to accelerate its efforts.

"We have always taken a comprehensive approach of balancing treatment and care from a national and regional perspective and it seems as if we are on the right track with our programs," he said.

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