The 23rd edition of the International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ICASA) in Africa has opened in Accra, Ghana.
Three thousand delegates from eighty-five countries including scientists, policy makers and community heads are in the country to partake in the 5-day conference aimed at finding a solution to the far-reaching impact of the disease and to advocate for sustainable solutions to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of critical AIDS funding within Africa.
Currently there are 26million people living with HIV in Africa with 63% of the victims being women and girls. 380,000 deaths were recorded in the region last year alone with new infections and deaths decreasing more than half since 2010.
Ghana won the bid last year to host the conference for the first time with a focus on youthful interventions.
Director of ICASA, Luc Armand Bodea, at the official opening, emphasized the importance of knowing one’s status and seeking treatment to improve health outcomes.
“This conference will take place from the 3rd to 8th December and we are expecting 3000 delegates from 85 countries. We need to intensify awareness and coordinate our interventions to fight HIV/AIDS by 2030,” he said.
The conference is on the theme: Africa in action: Catalyzing Integrated Sustainable Response to end AIDS, TB and Malaria.
