Stakeholders have called on African governments to increase funding for their health sectors, especially to combat HIV/AIDS, at the first International Steering Committee meeting ahead of the 2025 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), set to be held in Ghana next year.

The World Health Organization’s 2023 epidemiology fact sheet revealed that while global HIV infections have decreased by 38% from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.3 million in 2022, the disease remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in Africa.

The biennial ICASA conference provides an important platform for African governments to strengthen their health systems and discuss strategies to address HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other emerging infections. Ghana will host the 23rd edition of the conference, marking the country’s first time as the host nation.

Dr Pagwesse Pavirenyatwa, President of ICASA, stressed the need for African countries to focus on domestic funding sources. “Our reliance on external aid is dwindling. It is now the responsibility of African governments and organizations to mobilize resources within the continent to strengthen health systems,” he said. He added that such investments could potentially make HIV a disease of the past by 2030 if African countries focus on utilizing their own resources, including natural resources like oil, diamonds, and gold.

Dr Pavirenyatwa also highlighted the rising HIV rates among youth, emphasizing the importance of targeted awareness and investment in this demographic. “We need to focus on the youth, where HIV infections are growing,” he noted.

The meeting, which included representatives from 25 countries, also addressed key organizational tasks for ICASA 2025, such as selecting a logo, finalizing the conference theme, and setting key dates.

Prof. Muhamed Chakroun, Vice President of the Society for AIDS in Africa, underscored the importance of inclusivity in the planning of the conference and its focus on fostering regional cooperation to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Source:TheDotNews