The Fifth International Scientific Conference «System for HIV/AIDS Prevention in Armed Forces» took place on 16–17 September 2008 in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Conference provided politicians, social leaders, scientists, researchers, medical specialists, and social representatives from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries to discuss serious issues related to the prevalence of HIV infection amongst servicemen and servicewomen. More than 500 participants attended the Conference, including 120 accredited participants from the CIS countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine): representatives of CIS military health services, leading scientists and administrators from the Russian healthcare system, epidemiologists, laboratory experts, and communicable disease specialists engaged in addressing prevention, diagnostic, and treatment issues regarding HIV infection; representatives from governmental bodies, NGOs, and international organisations, as well as politicians and social leaders.
