URI Africa took part in the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Africa which took place from December 4 to 8, 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Over 10,000 delegates including URI Africa attended the largest HIV/AIDS international conference in Africa. The conference brought together participants from 103 countries predominantly from Africa including religions leaders, scientist, health workers, people living with HIV/AIDS, policy makers, civil society and NGOs as well as government representatives to share and learn about successes, the best practice, challenges and innovations in the preventions and control of HIV/AIDS and STIs on the continent. Most of the participants have been actively engaged in the work of HIV and AIDs and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Malaria and TB in Africa.
The opening of the conference was welcomed by The Prime Minster of Ethiopia H.E. Meles Zenawi, Former US President H.E. George W. Bush, UN AIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe, The Society for AIDS in Africa President Prof. Robert Soudre, The Minster of Health of Ethiopia H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom and ICASA 2011 President Dr. Yigeremu Abebe.
Through the five days of the conference over 220 sessions took place, including 16 plenary speeches, over 50 satellite symposia. In addition to the above session, there were seven special sessions and 42 workshops for community, leadership and professional’s skill building. Sessions were presented both in English and French with simultaneous translations. During the plenary sessions Awards were presented for exceptional scientific research work in the field of HIV/AIDS in Africa for two Ethiopians, a Nigerian and Rwandan as well as a Senegalese.
While underlining the encouraging atmosphere, participants, presenters and conference organizers also shared concerns about recent announcements regarding cuts in much needed life-saving funding for HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria. The minister of health of Ethiopia said that 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 transmissions of AIDS.
The conference declaration adopted at the concluding session also urged donors governments, organizations and philanthropists to continue to invest in global health through contributions to the Global Fund and revers the decisions to cut round 11 disbursements, thereby saving 100,000 lives every month through the Fund`s programmes. The declaration also called upon all African governments and political leaders to create sustainability and own the HIV/AIDS response by being accountable to the various commitments of which they signatories and provide necessary local resources for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and improvement of health systems of their respective countries.
The conference has registered an important millstone in the fight against HIV epidemic. The 17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa will be held in 2013 in Durban, South Africa.
MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH
