adminCatherine Murombedzi H I V
For one to attend ICASA, only the main sessions are the ones that need one to be a registered delegate, but for the other functions taking place within the grounds and the community village everyone is free to attend. THE international conference on AIDS and sexually transmitted infections in Africa (ICASA) roars to life this Sunday, November 29, with over 4 500 delegates converging in Harare for the historic meeting. The Guest of Honour, His Excellency President Mugabe, will officially open the conference.
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said all was in place and anticipated the country to host a memorable conference.
“The biggest conference on sexually transmitted infections and AIDS in Africa will open on 29th November and everyone is invited,” said Dr Parirenyatwa at a function hosted by Elisabeth Glaser Paediatric Foundation to mark end of project report on the acceleration of the elimination of Paediatric HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe last week.
For one to attend ICASA, only the main sessions are the ones that need one to be a registered delegate, but for the other functions taking place within the grounds and the community village everyone is free to attend.
The conference runs under the theme: AIDS in post 2015 Era: Linking leadership, science and human rights. Dr Parirenyatwa thanked traditional leaders for being effective tools of change in curbing new HIV infections.
“Our traditional leaders have been at the forefront in our programmes and we have been heard at chief’s councils, at the headman’s kraal at the village square and anywhere locals gather. The traditional leaders have been instrumental in having successful programmes. They have been pivotal and today I say thank you to them because we are noticing a change in the trend of new HIV infections in the country,” he said.
He said around early 2000 when the HIV virus was spreading at an alarming level his ministry and partners sat down and mapped a strategic roadmap that involved behaviour change, prevention from mother to child, prevention on sexual issues that is with condom distribution, and looked at the key populations as the HIV infection slowed down.
“Then around 2000 the rate of HIV infection stood at around 30 percent yes that high. Today it has gone down to 14, 8 percent, but I still say it is too high it has to get to zero. We have seen what partnerships and commitment from the highest office brings and we still continue to work on the incidence rate, new HIV infections that the figure falls,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
“We have a domestic funding which although small is very important. It is one of the best practices the world over and the AIDS levy as the domestic funding has been providing the much needed funds in mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS,” said Dr Parirenyatwa. Dr Parirenyatwa went on to define key populations in the response to scaling down HIV infections.
“Our youths are key to us they are a key population. The long distance truck drivers, the commercial sex workers and the prison population,” he said. “We have special programmes to handle each key population and can say there is marked understanding and change in these groups but we need not relax work still needs to be done is we are to achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030,” he said.
“There are pockets of new HIV infections in the youths and this has to be curbed and addressed,” he said. With ICASA coming as colleges and schools close the youths are encouraged to go in their large numbers to the conference and glean information from the various pamphlets and booklets that will be handed out.
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