The 16th International Conference on AIDS and SITs in Africa began on monday in Addis Ababa with over 10,000 participants in attendance.
&Addis Ababa, the Capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is the centre stage for discussions on the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Over 10,000 participants from around the world including Heads of States and governments, eminent scientists, high-level policy makers, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), community and opinion leaders as well as activists working in the field of AIDS, SITs, Tuberculosis and Malaria are currently exchanging amongst other things knowledge and skills while consolidating experiences and best practices in the fight against HIV in Africa. This is taking place at the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Infections in Africa (ICASA) which started yesterday December 4 at the Millennium Conference Hall in Addis Ababa on the theme “Own, Scale-up and Sustain.”
The high-level conference organised by the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) seeks to promote sectoral achievement in AIDS response, strengthen the partnership among governments, civil societies and development partners as well as serve as an advocacy platform to mobilise African leaders, partners and the communities to increase ownership and commitment in the AIDS battle. In his message, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, said the conference is a great opportunity for dialogue and exchange about recent developments and research findings in prevention, treatment, care and support to HIV patients; and also to distil implications in dealing with the AIDS epidemic in Africa and around the globe. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister added that ICASA 2011 is a unique platform for taking stock of best practices and lessons leaned in African countries with a view of crafting more effective “African solutions” in defeating HIV once and for all.
Against the backdrop of growing global economic uncertainty, Meles Zenawi said it is vital for African countries to develop innovative and sustainable strategies for mobilising new human, intellectual and material resources with the view to fortify and sustain its own response to the epidemic. The President of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), Professor Robert Soudre, said given that ICASA 2011 is being organised 30 years after the first case of HIV was identified, with recent scientific advances in HIV prevention and treatment; and the enormous impact on survival, increased requirement for second and third-line treatment, Africa must prepare to harness new and emerging preventive and treatment strategies such as “Test and Treat” and the possible role of “Treatment as Prevention”. Noting that ICASA 2011 is taking place at Ethiopia, the headquarter of Africa Union (AU), Prof. Robert Soudre stressed the full engagement of AU in terms of convention on public health ratified by Heads of States, a scientific commission to seat at the AU, addressing in a truly cross-functional way the issues of HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and to facilitate the implementation of universal access to treatment.
For five days, the ICASA chairman, Ethiopia’s Country Director of Clinton Foundation, Dr Yigeremu Abebe said participants will focus on three areas: Scientific, Non-Abstract Driven (NADs) Sessions and the Community Programme. The community village focuses on programme ranging from the youth pavilion to the community dialogue space which will involve all those working on the HIV pandemic.
