The urgent need to continue rolling out effective HIV-prevention strategies to developing countries is a major topic at the 16th International Aids conference in Toronto, Canada, this week.
Five representatives of Irish Aid, the Government's overseas development programme, including three advisers from South Africa, Uganda and Mozambique, are among the 15,000 participants attending the conference. Fifty Irish-sponsored delegates from east and southern Africa and representatives from Irish development non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will also be present.
The biennial event, which began on Sunday and runs until Friday, will discuss international efforts to implement HIV-prevention and treatment strategies under the "Time to Deliver" theme.
It is 25 years since the first cases of HIV were reported in the US, and the World Health Organisation estimates there are now 38.3 million people living with HIV, with four million new infections each year.
The five Irish Aid delegates will attend discussions relating to HIV in the areas of stigma, children, treatment, prevention, and women and girls affected.
Mary Robinson, president of the global Ethical Initiative, is a guest speaker at a session on the importance of education in fighting HIV/Aids. She will focus in particular on the need to educate girls.
This afternoon, the Irish delegation will deliver a presentation on their work with the Clinton Foundation in Mozambique.
Irish Aid has given almost €30 million in aid to the country since it began working there in 2003.
Mozambique has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world, with 16 per cent of the population affected.
Irish Aid and the Clinton Foundation have established 38 treatment facilities and are treating 19,779 people.
Minister of State Conor Lenihan said €100 million of Irish aid had been set aside to fight HIV/Aids.
A report outlining key issues discussed at the conference and their implications on future policies will be compiled by the delegation in the coming weeks.