The president's top advisor in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS said Friday that the nation has a "moral imperative" to provide the keys for prevention and care to those who are locked out.

Douglas M. Brooks, the director of the Office of National AIDS Policy and the lead speaker at the Third Minority HIV and Health Disparities Conference, told his audience at the Jackson Convention Complex that the science behind HIV/AIDS treatment is clear on what works.

"Now we must figure out how to get people access to it …  to high-quality, life-extending care free from stigma and discrimination."

Brooks was one of several authorities who addressed the conference sponsored by the Medical Center, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Southeast AIDS Training and Education Center, which includes the UMMC AIDS Education and Training Center.

A number of interesting events is scheduled for the upcoming week at the Medical Center.