The Society for AIDS in Africa ( SAA) has pledged to work with the KwaZulu-Natal government in ensuring the successful hosting of the 21st International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) to be held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban this year.

The announcement to host the ICASA Conference from the 6th to the 11th of December 2021 was made today, 31 August 2021, during a high-level meeting led by Premier Sihle Zikalala with an international delegation from SAA represented by its President Prof. John Idoko.

The Premier was joined by KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, eThekwini Mayor Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda, South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) CEO Dr Thembisile Xulu, the National and Provincial Departments of Health.

The conference will bring together scientists, policy makers, communities, activists, and people living with HIV. This will aid efforts to urgently up scale the fight against HIV, AIDS, TB and STIs preventions at a time when the country’s health systems are overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ICASA Conference is the second largest conference which will be held in the province after the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) which is scheduled to take place in November this year.

The hosting of both the ICASA and IATF conferences is a clear indication that KwaZulu-Natal is ready to roll-down the red carpet and welcome international delegates to its shores once again since the devastating impact of COVID-19 which resulted in the halting of hosting major events.

Speaking during today’s announcement, Premier Zikalala said: “As a hosting province and city, we extend our gratitude to our national government for approving the hosting of this crucial conference. In KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial government endorsed Durban as a host city on the 11th of April 2021.

 

We look forward to hosting an impactful, memorable conference and to partner with the Society on Aids in Africa (SAA). Since its founding in 1989, SAA has led from the front in mobilizing stakeholders to attain the vision of an Africa which is free of AIDS, TB and Malaria. We recognize the organisation’s significant role in the fight against stigma and discrimination of People Living with HIV. The Society on AIDS in Africa continues to be visible in campaigns of social justice and expansion of quality treatment, care and support for people living with HIV. Notwithstanding the constraints brought about by Covid-19, we have no doubt that we will succeed in hosting a successful 21st International Conference for AIDS and STIs in Africa.”

Premier Zikalala said hosting the ICASA 2021 Conference in Durban is important for KwaZulu-Natal as it remains the province with the highest burden of HIV in South Africa.

“This conference will help to galvanize all our stakeholders in KwaZulu-Natal not to take the eye off the ball while we battle the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. We are happy also to host ICASA 2021 because KwaZulu-Natal will also be able to share its many successful stories, many of which are driven by communities themselves at grassroots level to turn the tide against HIV, AIDS, TB, and STIs. This will be an opportunity also to examine our strategies and impact in reducing HIV infections in key populations as well as the vulnerable groups like girls and women aged between 15 and 24,” said Premier Zikalala.