The largest gathering on HIV and AIDS and Sexually transmitted infections, in Africa has officially commenced in Harare, Zimbabwe. where countries took stock of the achievements and challenges they have encountered in response to HIV and AIDS over the past decades.
The six-day conference, under the theme of "AIDS in Post 2015 Era: Linking Leadership, Science and Human Rights", brings together more than 5,000 delegates from around the world including the world's leading scientists, policy makers, activists, people living with HIV and government leaders to showcase new research findings, and strategies towards achieving the global target of ending the AIDS epidemic by the year 2030.
The conference being organised from 29th November – 4th December 2015, by the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA).
Zimbabwean Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said about ICASA as “a tremendous platform for researchers from all around the globe to share latest scientific advances in the field, learn from others experiences and develop strategies for facets of a collective effort to prevent and treat HIV.”
Importantly, it is to strengthen the interaction between the public health, science and human right approaches in the control and elimination of the HIV/AIDS and associated diseases.
ICASA 2015 is co-chaired by Dr Ihab Abdel Rhaman Ahmed, President of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), and Dr. Pagwesese David Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe's Health and Childcare Minister.
Present at the opening ceremony of the week-long conference were; Mr Michel Sidibé the Executive Director of UNAIDS, and Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
UNAIDS estimates there were 1.4 million new HIV infections in 2014, in sub-Saharan Africa, a drop of 41% since 2000.
Currently, there are about 11 million people in Africa receiving HIV treatment, a massive rise from the about 11, 000 persons who were on HIV treatment 15 years ago.
By Ruchi Singh
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
