The International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) started successfully yesterday the 29th of November at The Rainbow Towers Hotel.
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa who was the guest of honor officially opened the Conference and declared ICASA 2015 officially and duly opened. The five day conference will end on the 4th of December.
“In line with the UN 2020 targets of 90-90-90, as a continent we need to ensure that 90% of all people living with HIV will know their status, 90% of all people diagnosed with HIV will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all the people who are receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppress. It is my sincere hope that esteemed guests during this conference will explore more innovative ways of circumventing mother to child transmission” ,VP Mnangagwa said in his opening speech.
Other speakers at the opening ceremony included the minister of Health and Child care, Dr David Parirenyatwa ,UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sindibe’, Dr Leila Pakkala, UNICEF Regional Director Dr Matchidiso Moeti, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin and Dr Ihab Ahmed president of the AIDS society in Africa. The conference was well received with people working in the field of HIV, leaders, people living with HIV and others committed to ending the pandemic.
Dr Parirenyatwa expressed his gratitude for being given the honor of hosting the ICASA and hoped this will go a long way in changing minds and attitudes in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole.
He also went on to commend the success of the conference as he outlined the issues that they had already addressed on that day, “The day has so far been helpful ,we have talked about breaking the backbone of the HIV pandemic ,we have talked about HIV and children,we have talked about HIV and girls ,we have talked about HIV and women,”
The conference theme “AIDS in Post 2015 Era: Linking Leadership, Science & Human Rights” engages the whole continent and all stakeholders in the post MDG framework, where sustainability of the response in reaching the 90, 90, 90 target of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
ICASA is a tremendous platform for researchers from all around the globe to share latest scientific advances in the field, learn from other experiences and develop strategies for facets of a collective effort to prevent and treat HIV.
ICASA 2015 as expected convened about 5 000 delegates from nearly 150 countries including over 200 journalists .Tumbuka dance group, Mokoomba Afro-fusion group, Ndizvo Zvandiri and renowned poet Albert Nyathi entertained the delegates .
- Technomag Zimbabwe