adminCatherine Murombedzi
In Zimbabwe commitment in the field of HIV has been from the highest office. In 2000 when many lives were lost to the pandemic, President Robert Mugabe declared it a national emergency. He has not lifted it and still remains high on the national agenda. Since then the HIV prevalence rate has dropped from 25% in 2000 to 14,8% in 2013. The country cannot rest on its laurels. It still needs to see the figure go down, even getting to zero new HIV infections. The burden of HIV pandemic is on southern Africa so Africa cannot relax it keeps HIV high on agenda.
President Mugabe is the patron of the National AIDS Council (NAC). He is the Guest of Honour for this special ICASA event on home soil. A total of 71 countries have so far registered for the event and more are still doing so. The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been in the throng of work and today hospital admissions and the scenario in the centres has improved but the later is not sleeping on the job.
The 18th International conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in Africa (ICASA) is on course to be held in Harare from November 29 to the December 4. The theme: “Linking leadership, science and human rights, role of leadership.”
Science has moved in leaps and bounds and treatment has offered a new lease of life to people living with HIV. The rights of people living with HIV have to be respected and the conference brings such issues out clearly.
At the conference there is going to be a session by leadership to eliminate HIV in communities. ICASA Chief Executive Officer Luc Bodea who is already in the country said he is pleased with the ground covered by Zimbabwe at such short notice.
“We never doubted Zimbabwe’s ability to host the conference. It accepted the bid and we are pleased with the progress and the hospitality of the people of Zimbabwe.
“The ICASA conference has confirmed delegates standing at 3 500 but is still getting more registering. “People have asked for an extension to the registration which was supposed to close on the 10th of November,” said Luc Bodea. ICASA Communications Manager Tariro Makanga-Chikumbirike thanked all stakeholders and the Government for the commitment they have shown.
“My profound thanks go to all stakeholders, captains of industry and commerce, the government, partners and the media for owning this special event,” said Makanga-Chikumbirike. “All African countries have registered and international ones too are coming. This is a scientific conference and brings all the brains in the field of HIV,” she added.
“You have heard of the Berlin man who went into remission is the only one to have been cured of HIV. He was on cancer treatment and so we will hear from him and experts on how this was possible,” she said. Makanga-Chikumbirike said the private sector had come up with services and this will cut costs. The media has looked at it as a national event and it belongs to everyone.
Beatrice Tonhodzayi-Ngondo wanted to know if this was not going to be another talk shop.
“Is this conference not going to melt into work shopping and have no benefits to the local person?” Tonhodzayi-Ngondo asked. “This conference concerns everyone. Visitors will feel our ubuntu, our businesses will benefit and delegates will surely come back for tourism after having experienced the Zimbabwean hospitality.
“Science will update us on where they are and any new findings. The community village does not need one to be registered so people from all walks of life are free to attend this village,” said Makanga Chikumbirike.
With the increase in sexually transmitted infections in the general populace such a conference is necessary for the country. The whole UN family will be represented from the high offices so is the World Health Organisation. For fun-loving soccer fans, Samuel Etoo will be at the conference too. All roads will be leading to ICASA in Harare.
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