The conference objectives are to contribute to existing knowledge on HIV/AIDS and disability\; provide specific and feasible recommendations for integrating support for persons with disabilities into workplace HIV/AIDS strategies\; and develop a tool for mainstreaming disability into HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs. Key messages in the conference are aimed at policy makers\, National AIDS Commissions\, as well as key leaders\, advocates and all stakeholders in the disability sector.
END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130524T161742Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130618T072400Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20020203 UID:http://safaids.net/content/6th-south-african-aids-conference-sa-aids-durban-south-africa URL;VALUE=URI:http://safaids.net/content/6th-south-african-aids-conference-sa-aids-durban-south-africa SUMMARY:6th South African AIDS Conference (SA AIDS)\, Durban\, South Africa DESCRIPTION:Our conference comes a decade after we first engaged\, as a community\, at the first SA AIDS conference in 2003. We have faced many obstacles since then. We have dealt with these head-on\, sometimes at great personal expense. Throughout this time\, however\, we have also made many advances in dealing with HIV and AIDS\, successes we should all be proud of.
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South African scientists continue to be on the cutting edge\, as recently evidenced by their contribution to scientific discoveries in the long road to finding an HIV vaccine. Understanding how broadly cross-neutralising HIV antibodies developed in two local participants opens up further strategies for HIV vaccine design.
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There have also been major successes in preventing mother-to-child transmissions. A national Department of Health and Medical Research Council report on the evaluation of the effectiveness of programmes to prevent mother to child transmissions notes\: “Uptake of PMTCT services is high\, with more than 98% of women getting HIV tested during pregnancy and 91.7% of HIV-positive mothers receiving ARV treatment or prophylaxis.”
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The theme for our conference in June is “Building on Successes\: Integrating Systems”. This speaks to our challenges. While great strides have been made in PMTCT\, health systems need to be strengthened to reduce the missed opportunities for Early Infant Diagnosis. Closing the gaps where they exist and ensuring that the existing systems run optimally\, should remain a focus of our discourse.
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In the last decade we have learnt that tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are two sides of the same coin. For this reason we are conscious that rapid TB diagnosis and prompt initiation of therapy remains central to the control of TB. The Department of Health with the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) has rolled out the GeneXpert to all nine provinces in selected microscopy laboratories.
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This important development will also feature on the conference radar with a workshop focussed on the current GeneXpert Algorithm.
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This conference is an important marker on our road to achieving our goals. It brings together clinicians\, academics\, civil society\, government and the South African community at large in a gathering that will shape our dialogue in the years ahead.
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We must be cognisant of the successes we have achieved\, but we must guard against becoming complacent. We need to build on these successes and start ensuring that the systems we have developed are integrated into health policies and operations.
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Visit\: http\://www.saaids.co.za/
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