Key messages from the latest regional conferences Professor Souleymane Mboup ICASA 2008 Conference Chair

ICASA 2005 Organized by the Society on AIDS in Africa Theme: “HIV and the Family” First Leadership Forum : –The role of African Leadership and its commitments to HIV epidemics in Africa Youth Forum –Listening to the voice of African Youth: participation in planning HIV strategies –Role of youth in prevention

Recommendations from ICASA 2005 It is important to address the Healthcare Workforce Crisis in Africa A mechanism must be put in place to monitor progress on commitments and hold African leaders accountable. Youth should be involved at all levels of planning, implementation and evaluation of HIV/AIDS programs. Public and private sector responses to HIV should be coordinated and partnerships encouraged.

Human Rights Session Organized by AfriCASO –A community network, with five sub-regional networks, bringing together African CSOs involved in the fight against AIDS in Africa –Regional Secretariat in Dakar (Senegal) Participation: 34 community leaders, government representatives (NACs) and partners

Results –Skills building on: The concept of human rights as well as stigmatization & discrimination; The “Three Ones” concept; The UNGASS declaration of commitment –Production of an action plan to fight stigma and discrimination in west and central Africa –Workshop replication at the national level by the participants with the support of UNDP Human Rights Session

Co-Organized by AfriCASO and UNAIDS Goal: to reinforce partnerships between various stakeholders at the national level. Main results Shared understanding of the Three Ones by the stakeholders Partnership established for optimal implementation of Three Ones. Partnership Forum 2005

Symposium on ARV Drug Resistance in Africa Organized by Society on AIDS in Africa Khartoum, Sudan, December 10-12, 2007 Strategies to address treatment/care, drug resistance, MDR-TR –Clearly define resistance based on clinical and laboratory indicators; –Train HIV health care providers in rational use of ARV drugs –Identify reference laboratories in Africa and build up national laboratory capacities for surveillance of HIV transmission and drug resistance patterns

Mobilizing CSOs around the Global Fund Round 8 call for proposals Organized by AfriCASO, in collaboration with UNAIDS, TSF-WCA and AWARE HIV-AIDS Goal: involve CSOs in the development and implementation of national proposals Main results: –Better understanding of the Global Fund structure and CS-related principles such as Dual Track financing –Better understanding of the round 8 proposal form, annexes and guidelines –Better positioning of CSOs to be Principle Recipients or sub-recipients

SWAA 11th International Conference Organized by SWAA –Pan African Women's organization established in 1988 –Working in 41 African countries including Morocco Theme: HIV/AIDS, Gender and Human Rights: Time to act The plight of women is getting worse: prevalence rate increased from 60 to 61% in Significant improvement in mainstreaming gender issues into policies and plans, but implementation leaves much to be desired.

Recommendations Address the socio-cultural context of HIV Incorporate gender into HIV programming at all levels Promote the sexual, reproductive, and human rights of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS Address the socio-cultural factors that slow uptake of PMTCT programs Reduce gender-based violence, especially in conflict zones

ICASA 2008 Vision : It’s TIME for a new ICASA –T ransparency –I ntegrity –M etamorphosis –E xcellence Theme –Africa’s response: Face the facts

Objectives of the Conference Create at atmosphere conducive to information, exchange, experiences, and evaluation of the response to the epidemic in Africa. Aim for greater coherence in the design and implementation of AIDS programs by cultivating synergy among scientific, community, and leadership approaches. Heighten public awareness of the continuing impact of HIV/AIDS and STIs and the importance of international solidarity in the response.

Promote universal access to prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/AIDS and STIs by reinforcing the engagement of leaders through concrete action that integrates decision-makers from the public and private sectors. Build an institutional memory by strengthening the SAA and follow-up to ICASA Objectives of the Conference

Organizers Society on AIDS in Africa (SAA) Government of Senegal Ministry of Health of Senegal Co-Organizers: RARS RESAPSI SWAA UNAIDS WHO AAVP AFRICASO IAS IUSTI - Africa‏ NAP+

2152 abstracts received

August 2008 Announcement of plenary themes and speakers September 2008 Marathon meeting Production of conference program Selection of skills building workshops Sending of invitation letters to identified speakers Selection of scholarship recipients Selection of satellite meetings October 2008 Deadline for payment of satellite sessions Deadline for reservation and payment of exhibition stands December 3-7, th ICASA Key Dates

SAA Elections Two representative from Central Africa and Northern Africa and three from each of the other regions shall be elected every four years. Southern Africa 3 West Africa 3 East Africa 3 Central Africa 2 Northern Africa 2 International members 2 Total = 15 KEY DATES Council Election (e-voting) September 2008 Dissemination of Results: October 2008