Ghana officially begins ICASA 2025 to deliberate on HIV and other infectious diseases

Ghana is for the first time hosting the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025). 

The conference, which begins on 3-8 December is organised by the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) on the theme; “Africa in Action: Catalysing Integrated and Resilient Health Systems for Sustainable Responses to end HIV, Other Infectious Diseases, and Emerging Threats”. 

ICASA is a major, bilingual AIDS conference held exclusively in Africa, alternating biennial between Anglophone and Francophone countries.  

For over 30 years, ICASA has been instrumental in mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Malaria, while promoting an inclusive environment free from stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families. 

“It aims to catalyze Africa’s progress towards triple elimination and sustainable resilient health systems through innovation and digital technologies, promote cooperation among governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations to enhance health security and improve pandemic preparedness and response. 

It also seeks to strengthen capacity and facilitate knowledge exchange for healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, empower communities and promote human rights and gender equality in the context of HIV and AIDS as well as emerging and re-emerging diseases. 

The conference will mobilize leadership, scientific, and community action to address the far-reaching impact of this decision and to advocate sustainable solutions to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of critical AIDS funding. 

Mr Luc Armand Bodea, ICASA Director and SAA Coordinator, speaking at the launch of the conference said now more than ever, domestic financing had become a do-or-die affair for Africa. 

“ICASA can help us to ensure that the progress made in the fight against HIV/AIDS is not reversed and that Africa’s health systems remain resilient”, he added. 

Mr Bodea said ICASA 2025 would convene about 3000 delegates from 85 countries and urged the media to inform the public on what is going to happen. 

Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, the Director-General Ghana AIDS Commission and Local Organizing Chairman of ICASA 2025, highlighting on Ghana’s HIV statistics said the conference was timely to serve as a wake up to the national response. 

“This will help rethink what we’ve been doing over the years and make sure that we leverage the knowledge based on this conference to make our national response more effective,” he added. 

Dr Fiona Braka, the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the conference was expecting scientists, policy makers, community leaders, and the media aiming to accelerate Africa’s progress towards elimination of AIDS, TB and malaria through innovation and digital technologies. 

She urged governments to take ownership, use the responses in an integrated manner, provide permanent budget lines for the initiatives and also called on partners and donors to invest in long-term systems strengthening in local manufacturing and in the African workforce. 

Source: GNA   

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