Accra to host HIV/AIDS conference

Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - Over 150 representatives of National AIDS Commissions, NGOs working to fight HIV/AIDS, researchers, Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PWHAs) and media advocates from across Africa are expected in Accra for a three-day international African conference next week.

There conference scheduled for November 20-30, under the theme: "Strengthening Interventions Towards the Elimination of HIV/AIDS in Africa," is expected to identify effective strategies for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa and make proposals for policy change and harmonisation across the continent. A statement on Monday by the Woyome Foundation for Africa (WOFA), an international charity organisation, hosts of the conference, said the conference was in furtherance of the Foundation's commitment to a more direct approach to achieve universal accessibility to treatment, therapy and care for those infected and affected by the disease.

It said Africa was the worst affected by the pandemic, with statistics showing that sub-Saharan

Africa accounted for over 70 percent of prevalence globally. Though the various countries on the continent had been addressing the menace through their different policies and strategies the causes and effects of the pandemic had been the same in almost all these countries, it said.

According to Mr Vitus Nanbigne, Project Coordinator of WOFA, "while the policies seem to have worked in some countries, the results have swung to and fro in other countries, leaving a cause for concern". He said there was the need to identify, learn best practices and work towards harmonizing these national policies into an African approach and common policy to fight the pandemic.

Mr. Nanbigne said the conference would over the three days reflect and digest the issues of HIV/AIDS in Africa; evaluate the various country policies and strategies to reduce infection; boost access to treatment and eliminate stigmatisation; share and compare success stories, best practices, the difficulties and challenges faced and adopt common positions towards a possible advocacy for an HIV/AIDS law or laws for Africa.