WASHINGTON, DC (NEWS1130) – Doctors from all over the world are gathering in Washington, DC this week for an International AIDS Conference.

Canada has come along way in stopping the spread of the disease but more work is needed, especially when it comes to vulnerable populations.

Other countries look to Vancouver as a leader in the battle to end new HIV infections and the treatment as prevention model is a good example of that. However, Maxine Davis with the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation says doctors here are finding it tough to help those marginalized in the health care system.

“In order to get them in on treatment, the most challenging is to get people who are homeless, with serious mental illness, and addictions,” says Davis. “Even over the last number of months of the last 90 new admissions we’ve had, about 85 per cent are individuals who inject drugs.”

She says the goal is to get an AIDS-free generation, meaning having drug users living without the disease.

Davis will be finding new strategies to bring home from this conference. But she will also be speaking with others about Vancouver’s response to reducing the increase of infections through safe injection sites.