Zimbabwe to host the 22nd edition of International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) for second time

By Wallace Mawire [caption id="attachment_101613" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Dr. Bernard Madzima, CEO of NAC assisting Hon. Dr. David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, SAA/ICASA 2023 President, with H.E. Dr. C. G.D.N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Childcare/ICASA 2023 Vice President, Zimbabwe, being assisted by Air Commodore (Dr.) Jasper Chimedza, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Child Care, at the signing of the MoU at State House, Harare, Zimbabwe
In the background, From left: Mr. Luc Armand Bodea, ICASA Director, H.E. Emerson Mnangagwa, President of. Zimbabwe, Prof. Morenike Ukpong, SAA Treasurer and Dr. Fikile Ndlovu, SAA Deputy Secretary General, during the Signing of the ICASA 2023 MoU, State House, Harare, Zimbabwe[/caption] On 17^th October 2022 in Harare, the Republic of Zimbabwe won  the right to host the 22^nd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa  which was conferred to  Dr Emmerson  Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe at the state house. This is the second time Zimbabwe will be  hosting ICASA. As previous hosts of ICASA 2015 held in Harare, Zimbabwe convened over 5400 delegates. Zimbabwe’s selection was a result of a rigorous evaluation process of two pre-selected countries out of five country bids. With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Honorable Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, General (Rtd) Dr. Constantine  Chiwenga, representing the Government of Zimbabwe and the Society for AIDS in Africa, represented by Hon. Senator. Dr. David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, SAA President and ICASA 2023 President, the Society for AIDs in Africa expressed its  pleasure to officially declare Zimbabwe as the next host country of 22^nd edition of ICASA, ICASA 2023. The Society for AIDS in Africa says it  is conscious of the momentous task ahead in preparing towards a successful ICASA 2023. ‘We are confident that the Government of Zimbabwe with the good people of this country through ICASA 2023, will further motivate all African countries, and the International community to devote more attention and commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other emerging viral infections and diseases in Africa towards the end of AIDS by 2030,’ the Society said. They also  appealed to all to follow closely the unfolding preparations of ICASA 2023 and to lend  support to Zimbabwe, so that ICASA 2023 reflects lessons learnt that will further the new direction of the SDG strategies to move Africa towards strengthening its  health systems, and the elimination of HIV, TB and Malaria. [caption id="attachment_101614" align="alignnone" width="650"] .E. Dr. C. G.D.N. Chiwenga, Vice President and Minister of Health and Childcare/ICASA 2023 Vice President, Prof. Morenike Ukpong, SAA Treasurer, H.E. Emerson Mnangagwa, President of. Zimbabwe, Dr. Fikile Ndlovu, SAA Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Luc Armand Bodea, ICASA Director.[/caption] The Society for AIDS in Africa was established in Kinshasa in October 1990 during the 4^th International Conference on AIDS and Associated Cancers in Africa, a precursor to the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). The formation of the Society for AIDS in Africa, which was facilitated by the (W.H.O) to encourage the African continent to host international conferences on HIV/AIDS, a disease whose scourge had the hardest impact on the continent.  This move encouraged and empowered Africans to directly address and respond to the challenges posed by the HIV and AIDS pandemic on the continent. Since its inception, SAA has successfully organized 21 International Conferences on HIV /AIDS and STIs in 19 African countries. The 21^st edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa was held in Durban- South Africa, under the theme ‘’AFRICA’S AIDS RESPONSE: THE RACE TO 2030 – EVIDENCE. SCALE UP. ACCELERATE’’. This was the first time in its history that the conference was held virtually. Over 4025 delegates from 83 countries across Africa and other regions of the world participated virtually.