The XVII International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) opened on 7 December in Cape Town, South Africa. At the top of the agenda—discussions on how the continent is taking the lead in setting the AIDS and health agenda for 2015 and beyond.

At a session called African leadership in the Post-2015 era, African leaders, civil society and young people explored how Africa’s AIDS response could help implement health and development strategies differently across the continent. The meeting included UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé; former president of Botswana, Festus Gontebanye Mogae; UN Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa, Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe; and Executive Committee Member of the African Youth and Adolescents Network (AfriYAN) Samuel Kissi.

Mr Sidibé stressed that AIDS is an unfinished business and that future development goals must include a clear roadmap towards ending the AIDS epidemic. Youth representatives called for more systematic approaches to engage them in the decision-making process.

The purpose of the leadership panel Global Plan Towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections Among Children by 2015 and Keeping their Mothers Alive was to discuss the progress made and the remaining challenges in moving towards an HIV-free generation. Participants also discussed other dimensions of the Global Plan such as pediatric tuberculosis and cervical cancer.

Mr Sidibé, singer and social activist and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, Annie Lennox, and the Acting Global AIDS Coordinator of the President’s Emergency Plan for the AIDS Relief, Deborah von Zinkernagel addressed the meeting. Other special guests included the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services Norbert Foster (representing Minister Dr Richard Kamwi), Special Advisor to the First Lady of  Chad and former Minister of Health for Chad Ngarmbatina  Odjimbeye Soukate, and Executive Director of Community Initiative for Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Malaria (CITAM+) Carol Nyirenda.

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Delegates from across the world gathered in Cape Town, South Africa on 6 December for the start of the XVII International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). The five-day conference is being held on a sombre note as the world mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, who is considered Africa’s greatest statesman.

The Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe welcomed participants to his country and paid tribute to Former President Nelson Mandela, saying “We will miss his larger than life figure, his statesmanship, his common touch, contagious humour and unbending resolve to see through a dream of a better life for all humanity.” He then went on to talk about the huge progress made in the AIDS response and said, “Investment in good health should be considered as a development imperative in and of itself.”

The theme of the five-day conference is “Now more than ever: targeting zero” and it was selected to stress the progress that has been made across Africa in scaling up HIV treatment but also the need to redouble efforts to prevent new HIV infections. More than 5 000 representatives of political, multilateral and civil society groups, as well as scientists, young people and activists are attending the conference.

Speakers at the opening ceremony included: UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, the First Lady of Zambia Christine Kaseba-Sata, the celebrated singer and activist and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, Annie Lennox, the Acting Global AIDS Coordinator of the President’s Emergency Plan for the AIDS Relief, Deborah von Zinkselnagel, Professor Robert Soudré, President of the Society for AIDS in Africa, Professor Ian Sanne, CEO of Right to Care and Cyriaque Ako, Health Specialist for African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR).  

The inauguration ceremony also featured cultural performances by African stars including the first prominent transgender artist from Angola; Titica who is UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador. Earlier, Ms Lennox and Mr Sidibé opened the cultural community village which features information booths, handicrafts made by people living with HIV and community groups.

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UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Annie Lennox is in South Africa to highlight the progress and challenges in the AIDS response. During her site visits, she paid tribute to Former President Nelson Mandela.

Ms Lennox learned about the benefits of early HIV treatment in preventing paediatric AIDS during a visit to the Children’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit (KID CRU) at the Tygerberg Children’s Hospital. She met with patients and their families and watched a performance by a community group singing a eulogy dedicated to President Mandela.

At the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre in the Masiphumelele community, Ms Lennox witnessed how a safe environment tailored to the needs of young people can change lives. The centre provides youth-friendly health services as well as education and entertainment. Ms Lennox spoke with young mothers about their challenges and dreams and listened to a rousing recording by a group of teenagers.

The field visits were particularly significant and symbolic to Ms Lennox because almost exactly ten years ago she resolved to bring attention to the HIV epidemic after her first very moving encounter with President Mandela.

In her role as UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, Ms Lennox will attend the 17th International conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) and speak at several high level events. The five day conference, which opens on 7 December, will be attended by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé along with around 7 000 of the world’s leading scientists, policy makers, activists and people living with HIV.

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The significant role that China’s private sector can play in the AIDS response was emphasized during a recent visit to UNAIDS Geneva headquarters by Li Hejun, Chairman of Hanergy Holding Group, a leading multinational clean energy company.

Mr Li, who is also the Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry & Commerce, was hosted by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé on 12 November. The two leaders had a wide-ranging discussion about how best to reinforce and extend the involvement of the private sector in an effective response to HIV. They also spoke about the future of global social responsibility.

Hanergy also hosts the China Red Ribbon Foundation. In addition, Mr Li expressed his willingness to actively enhance his company’s commitment to the AIDS response and cooperate with UNAIDS in the field of international health and development.

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A consultation on the future of HIV, health and development took place during the European Development Days held from 27-28 November in Brussels. The consultation was part of the regional dialogues series organized by The UNAIDS and Lancet Commission: Defeating AIDS – Advancing global health.

The main message emerging from the meeting was the need to leverage the experience of the AIDS response as a transformative force for social justice, equity and global health post-2015. Participants stressed the importance of putting marginalized and vulnerable communities at the centre of the HIV responses and integrate HIV, health and human rights in development responses after 2015.

Participants

Moderated by Member of the European Parliament Michael Cashman, the panel comprised Jacquelyne Alesi, Programmes Director, Network of Young People Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda; Ann-Sofie Nilsson, Director-General for International Development Cooperation, Sweden; Siddharth Chatterjee, Chief Diplomat at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; MacDonald Sembereka, Special Adviser to the President of Malawi and Baba Gumbala, International HIV/AIDS Alliance. The session was attended by members of parliament from Africa, European development actors, civil society, academics, government representatives and others.

Outcomes

The main issues discussed will be conveyed to the Chairs of the Commission’s three Working Groups, whose final papers will form the recommendation of the UNAIDS-Lancet Commission, to be published in The Lancet in 2014.

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As world leaders gather in the United States to pledge their commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s (Global Fund) replenishment conference, UNAIDS is calling for a successful outcome to ensure that no-one is left behind.

The United States is hosting the important replenishment conference which will secure financing for the Global Fund’s AIDS, TB and malaria programmes from 2014 to 2016. Ahead of the meeting, United States President Barack Obama welcomed global leaders to a special event at the White House in Washington DC.

During the event the President announced that the US has met—and in some cases exceeded—the targets set for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The targets, set in 2011, included ensuring access to antiretroviral therapy for 6 million people living with HIV. President Obama announced that the US is currently supporting 6.7 million people in gaining access to lifesaving treatment.

As the host country, President Obama also called on other world leaders to fully support global efforts to end the AIDS epidemic and stated the US will give US$ 1 to match every US$ 2 pledged to the Global Fund by other donors over the next three years (up to US$ 5 billion). 

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In a World AIDS Day statement, H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria announced his Government’s plan to step up the country’s AIDS response with his leadership and commitment. “No Nigerian should be allowed to die of AIDS, they must take charge and take an HIV test,” said President Jonathan.

A new national initiative to test 30 million people for HIV in 2014 was launched at an event held in the Bwari state of Nigeria by the Federal Minister of Health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu. According to Nigerian government  more than 80% of men and women in Nigeria report to never have been tested for HIV.  The Minister of Health led by example and took an HIV test to kick-start the HIV testing campaign. He was joined by UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Dr Luiz Loures, and the UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Nigeria Dr Bilali Camara who also took the test to mark UNAIDS support to this landmark campaign.

Dr Loures conveyed his assurances of the full support of UNAIDS and  the entire UN family to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Government of Nigeria in the implementation of the Presidential Comprehensive Response Plan to respond to AIDS which was launched earlier this year

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