Preventing HIV Transmission in Africa - What We Need To Do in the Next Five Years
We are pleased to feature Dr. Catherine Hankins, the Scientific Chair of the INTEREST Conferences from 2014-2020, in the Online Meeting Highlights edition on HIV in Africa. Dr. Hankins draws from her rich expertise and summarizes how prevention remains an important pillar in bringing the HIV epidemic to an end in Sub-Saharan Africa, and what steps need to be taken in the coming years.
Ending AIDS as a Public Health Threat
The ambitious target of having achieved viral suppression in 73% of all people living with HIV by 2020, as set by the United Nations General Assembly in the Sustainable Development goals, has not yet been reached though a progressive increase can be observed globally. In Sub-Saharan Africa, gender and regional inequity remains with respect to prevalence, testing, mortality, and new infections.
Key Scientific Advances in HIV Prevention
Looking into the HIV treatment and prevention toolkit, data from recent and ongoing clinical trials show promising results for vaginal rings, oral PrEP, long-acting injectables, monoclonal antibodies, and preventive HIV vaccines.
What Is Needed Now
To bend the epidemic's trajectory further in Africa, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV treatment and prevention services have to be addressed, as well as stigma which is an important impediment to rolling out programs and for people to come forward and participate. Finally, learn what is necessary to initiate comprehensive prevention programs that address the social determinants of HIV risk.
For more information on the module visit - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/online-meeting-highlights/2020-12?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OMH2403&utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email
Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus today declared the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
“It is time for the world to take notice and redouble our efforts. We need to work together in solidarity with the DRC to end this outbreak and build a better health system,” said Dr. Tedros. “Extraordinary work has been done for almost a year under the most difficult circumstances. We all owe it to these responders -- coming from not just WHO but also government, partners and communities -- to shoulder more of the burden.”
The declaration followed a meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee for EVD in the DRC. The Committee cited recent developments in the outbreak in making its recommendation, including the first confirmed case in Goma, a city of almost two million people on the border with Rwanda, and the gateway to the rest of DRC and the world.
This was the fourth meeting of the Emergency Committee since the outbreak was declared on 1 August 2018.
https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/17-07-2019-ebola-outbreak-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-declared-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern
Ethics course in Health Research- eLearning- March 14-18, 2022
The EDCTP grant “Strengthening Bioethics Committees in Lusophone African Region” will be conducting a free Ethics course in Health Research for Lusophone countries on March 14 - 18 2022. The course will bring together presidents and members of ethics/bioethics committees from various countries of the PALOP and Portugal. Additional details are available at https://www.lusoafro-bioethics.org .
12th Advanced Course on Diagnostics (ACDx) | Veyrier-du-Lac, France, 17-22 September 2023
The 12th Advanced Course on Diagnostics (ACDx), co-organized by the Merieux Foundation and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will take place at Les Pensières Center for Global Health, in Annecy (France) from 17 to 22 September 2023. In line with the historical resolution on “strengthening diagnostic capacities” to be adopted at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2023, the 12th edition of ACDx will emphasise the importance of providing access to effective, fast, and inexpensive diagnostic tools, especially in low-income countries. A call for applications is open with a deadline of 30 April 2023.
More information https://www.fondation-merieux.org/en/events/12th-advanced-course-on-diagnostics-acdx/