The 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2011 closed Thursday with a call for sustained response to HIV.
ICASA 2011, Africa’s largest conference on HIV/AIDS, brought together more than 10,000 participants from 103 countries, including scientists, health workers, people living with HIV, policy makers, civil society and non-governmental organizations, activists and government representatives to share and learn about successes, challenges and innovations in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS on the continent. Professionals networked, shared experiences and developed their skills and knowledge.
However, underlying the encouraging atmosphere, participants, presenters and conference organizers shared concerns about recent announcements regarding cuts in much needed life-saving funding for HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The financial blow of the Global Fund, which suspended normal disbursements until 2014, comes at the worst moment – when the use of antiretroviral drugs for treatment and prevention has dramatically reduced mortality from the virus and reduce transmission of AIDS.
Throughout the five days of ICASA 2011, over two hundred and twenty sessions took place, including sixteen plenary speeches, over fifty satellite symposia, the opening ceremony which welcomed Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, former US President George W. Bush, UNAIDS Director General Dr. Michel Sidibé, and the Society for AIDS in Africa President Prof. Robert Soudre, and ICASA 2011 Dr. Yigeremu Abebe, and today’s closing ceremony.
In addition to the above sessions, there were seven special sessions, fifty-two oral abstract presentations, twelve oral poster discussions, thirty-seven non-abstract driven sessions, seven late breaker abstract sessions and forty-two workshops for community, leadership and professional skill building. Sessions were presented in both English and French, with simultaneous translations.
During plenary session, five Young Investigator Awards were presented for exceptional scientific research and work in the field of HIV and AIDS in Africa to two Ethiopians, one Nigerian, one Rwandan and one Senegalese.
Source: AfricanSciencenNews
