Are we turning the tide on HIV/AIDS?: the social, political and economic landscape of HIV prevention and response in sub-Saharan Africa: 6th SAHARA conference 2011 report

Abstract

The conference addressed a critical question: "Are we turning the tide on HIV and AIDS? The social, political and economic landscape of HIV/AIDS". A range of presentations was made across the six conference sub-themes, namely: HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, MARPs (Most at Risk Populations), HIV Prevention, Accessibility, Uptake and Adherence to Treatment, Political Accountability in the AIDS Response and HIV Epidemiology. The conference started on Monday, the 28th November 2011 with a series of satellite and workshop sessions. Dr Olive Shisana delivered a thought-provoking opening keynote address at the Conference opening ceremony about HIV/AIDS challenges and opportunities in Africa which set the stage for subsequent discussions throughout the conference. Mr Bertrand Audoin delivered a keynote address at the conference opening plenary that gave the delegates a global perspective on the social, political and economic landscape of HIV prevention and response. Subsequently seven plenary sessions involving 34 presenters were delivered at the conference. Further, 32 parallel sessions, 236 oral presentations, AND 30 poster sessions were delivered. The presentations revealed that the tide on HIV/AIDS is being turned on HIV epidemiology, HIV Prevention; accessibility, uptake and adherence to treatment but a lot more still needs to be done on the MARP and HIV and Human Rights issues.