Rwanda to host the 20th edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA)

By Wallace Mawire [caption id="attachment_42671" align="alignleft" width="960"] ICASA 2017 took place in Ivory Coast[/caption] Rwanda is set to host the 20th edition of International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) according to the organisers. The Society for AIDS in Africa was established in Kinshasa in October 1990 during the 5th International Conference on AIDS and Associated Cancers in Africa, a precursor to the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). It is reported that the formation of the Society for AIDS in Africa, was facilitated by the (W.H.O) to encourage the African continent to host international conferences on HIV/AIDS, a disease whose scourge has hardest hit the continent. It is reported that the move encourages and empowers Africans to directly address and respond to the challenges posed by the HIV and AIDS pandemic on the continent. The Society envisions an HIV free Africa with capacity to confront all related consequences and diseases. The Society enables a positive environment for research on HIV and related diseases. The Society for AIDS in AFRICA (SAA) is governed by an Executive Council drawn from South, North, East, West and Central Africa. SAA collaborates with AFRICASO, SAFAIDS, SWAA, NAP+, and Network of Youth in Africa and enjoy the support of the UN- System, as well as various International organizations, including the International AIDS Society (IAS) Since its inception, SAA has successfully organized 19 International Conferences on HIV /AIDS and STIs in 14 Africa countries. The 2017 International Conference on AIDS STIs was held in Abidjan – Cote d’Ivoire, under the theme “Africa: Ending AIDS – Delivering differently”. Over 6000 delegates from Africa and other regions of the world convened in Cote d’Ivoire. On 6th December, 2017, in Abidjan, during ICASA 2017 the Sofitel Hotel Ivoire, the Minister of Health of Rwanda in the presence of ICASA 2017 President and the ICASA Director and other Executive Board Members, won the bid to host the 20th International Conference on AIDS and STIs which was conferred to Rwanda. Rwanda’s selection was a result of a rigorous evaluation of 3 countries to host ICASA 2019. With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Minister of Health and SAA with the strong support of the Rwandan Government, Dr. Ihab Ahmed, SAA President, officially declared Rwanda as the next host country of the 20th edition of ICASA, ICASA 2019. "We are conscious of the momentous task ahead as the host country prepare for ICASA. We are optimistic that the Government of Rwanda with the good people of this country through ICASA 2019, will further motivate all African countries Governments, the International community to devote more attention, and commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other health related issues in Africa with the aims to end AIDS by 2030," the Rwanda health minister said. It is added that they were appealing to all to closely follow the unveiling program of ICASA 2019 and to lend support to Rwanda, so that ICASA 2019 reflects lessons learnt that will further the new direction of the SDG strategies to move Africa towards stronger Health systems, and the elimination of HIV, TB and Malaria.