Deputy President David Mabuza has delegated the Minister of Health, Aaron
Motsoaledi, to lead the South African delegation to the 22nd International
AIDS Conference taking place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from 23 to 27 July
2018. The Deputy President¡¦s delegation came as he joined President
Cyril Ramaphosa as South Africa hosts the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
¡§Through Minister Motsoaledi, the Deputy President has conveyed his sincere
apology to the conference and especially to more than 500 South African
delegates consisting of AIDS activists, researchers, scientists, government
officials, HIV/AIDS ambassadors as well as premiers, deputy ministers and
MECs who are in attendance,¡¨ said The Presidency in a statement.
South African Ambassador to the Netherlands, Bruce Koloane, has welcomed all
members of the South African delegation to Amsterdam on Monday, 23 July,
urging them to be positive ambassadors for South Africa and to make a strong
country impression to this global gathering.
South African delegates have already taken part in some of the AIDS 2018
Conference sessions, including ones on HIV Prevalence and Prevention as well
as on Key Populations in Africa.
The International AIDS Conference takes place under the theme ¡§Breaking
Barriers Building Bridges¡¨. It is the largest conference on any global
health issue in the world.
First convened during the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1985, it continues to
provide a unique forum for the intersection of science, advocacy and human
rights. Each conference is an opportunity to strengthen policies and
programmes that ensure an effective response to the HIV epidemic.
The 2018 conference provides 18 000 conference delegates with the latest HIV
research, as well as an opportunity to reflect on key issues facing both the
HIV sector and the broader global health community.
The conference is hosted by the International AIDS Society (IAS), the
world¡¦s largest association of HIV professionals, with members from more
than 180 countries. IAS members include researchers, clinicians, policy and
programme planners, and public health and community practitioners.
As South Africa and the world mark the centenary of Mama Albertina Sisulu
and Tata Nelson Mandela this year, South Africa¡¦s exhibition stand reflects
and honours their significant contributions to the HIV and TB response.
The stand has been dubbed ¡§Vilakazi Street¡¨, the Soweto street where the
homes of two Nobel Peace Prize laureates ¡V South Africa¡¦s first
democratically elected president, the late President Nelson Mandela, and
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu ¡V are found.
¡V Source: SAnews.gov.za |