DURBAN is set to welcome more than 700 delegates for the International Conference on Aids & STIs in Africa (ICASA) conference starting on Monday at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Conference Centre (ICC)
The conference will be held from December 6 to December 11.
Premier Sihle Zikalala said the province is ready to host the conference.
“As the province of KwaZulu-Natal we will be hosting the International Conference on Aids & STIs in Africa, which kicks off tomorrow, Monday the 6th of December 2021, at Durban’s ICC. The week-long conference will convene a maximum of 750 in-person participants, while more than 3 000 will participate virtually.
“The objectives of the conference are to put the HIV/Aids pandemic and STI programmes back on our agenda. As a province largely affected by HIV/Aids as well, we are concerned about emerging signs of regress or lowering of the guard in the fight against HIV/Aids and STDs,” said Zikalala.
The premier said the conference will also look at the impact Covid-19 had on the responses to the “other” pandemic.
“The conference will evaluate the impact of Covid-19 on the HIV/Aids response, while sharing lessons learned in overcoming barriers in maintaining continuity of care for people living with, and at risk of, HIV infection,” said Zikalala.
ICASA said the continental convention will be the next step in making sure that Aids is eliminated in society.
“The biennial International Aids Conference is the premier gathering for all working in the field of health as well as leaders, people living with HIV and others committed to ending the epidemic. It will be a tremendous opportunity for researchers, clinicians from around the world to share the latest scientific advances, learn from one another’s expertise, and develop strategies for advancing all facets of our collective efforts to end Aids by 2030,” said ICASA.
Deputy President David Mabuza will deliver the official opening address at the conference in his capacity as the chairperson of the South African National Aids Council.
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