Zim raises $1m for Aids conference

Zimbabwe has raised over $1 million towards the successful hosting of the 18th International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA) to be held in Harare.
As the host nation, Zimbabwe is required to meet 20 percent of the total budget of the conference with the conference’s organisers, Society for Aids in Africa, taking care of the remainder. With the total budget for the event pegged at $3,6 million the country has already surpassed its target of $720 000.

This comes against a background of inaccurate media reports that the country was expected to meet the entire cost of the conference, with some sections of the media suggesting the country would fail at it. Head of the local ICASA secretariat Mr Raymond Yekeye, however, clarified the issue to Sunday News on Friday last week.

Mr Yekeye said the $1 million that has been raised will go towards logistics and funding of scholarships for under-privileged communities who will take part in the conference.

“We are not seeking to raise $3,6 million as reported, however we are trying to raise money for scholarships. The $3,6 million is the total budget for the whole conference and it’s not entirely up to us to raise this money. The $3,6 million will be co-financed by the Government of Zimbabwe and the organisers of the conference who are the Society for Aids in  Africa.

“Of this $3,6million the Government of Zimbabwe’s contribution is only 20 percent which will go towards funding for scholarships for disadvantaged communities whom we want to take part in the conference, ICT, venue and for transportation costs for the delegates. Locally Zimbabwe has managed to raise slightly over $1million towards the conference,” he said.

ICASA will be held in Harare from 29 November to 4 December this year at the Harare International Conference Centre, with over 10 000 delegates expected to attend.

The conference will run under the theme “Aids  in the Post 2015 era: linking Leadership, science and human rights”.
Mr Yekeye said preparations for the conference were now at an advanced stage. He paid tribute to Government’s various partners, whose overwhelming support he said had made life easy for the local organising committee.

“We are on course in our preparations. Programme wise we are at 95 percent completion. Logistics (venue, transports, accommodation) we are at 85 percent while in terms of scholarship we are at 70 percent.

“We have made huge steps in terms of preparations and we are working flat out to tie up loose ends. UN agencies have also come on board to offer their support towards the conference,” he said.

First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe pledged $380 000 towards revamping of the HICC ahead of the conference.
“We also have international companies like GILEAD that have availed sponsorship for conference bags among other materials. A pharmaceutical NEWAVAKASH has also chipped in with sponsoring on publicity e.g. billboards and promotional materials,” said Mr Yekeye.

Meanwhile, registration for delegates to attend the conference is ongoing online on the official ICASA website with more than 5 000 delegates having registered so far. Organisers of the conference have expressed confidence that more delegates will register to reach the expected figure before the closing date on 30 October.

“We are expecting between 5 000 and 11 000 delegates judging from previous conferences. Looking at the response rate and enquiries being received on a daily basis, we are on course to achieve our target.

Mr Yekeye noted with concern that fewer Zimbabweans had so far registered for the conference compared to their foreign counterparts.

He encouraged locals to take interest in attending the conference which he said provides an opportunity for them to interact with people from other countries in the fight against HIV.

The conference is expected, among other things, to showcase new research findings and celebrate the successes achieved in the fight against HIV over the years.

HIV and Aids response strategies adopted by countries will also be reviewed during the conference, possible ways of strengthening partnership among governments and co-operating partners will be explored.

Zimbabwe won the bid to host the ICASA conference ahead of four other countries after Tunisia, which had initially won the bid, failed to meet security requirements.