7th SA AIDS Conference

The seventh South African AIDS Conference (SA AIDS) took place 9-12 June at the International Conference Center in Durban, South Africa. Featured below are details on selected events related to HIV prevention research and implementation and more!

SA AIDS is a biennial meeting, serving as the primary opportunity to discuss South Africa’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. This year’s conference theme was Reflection, Refocus and Renewal.

It is a crucial time for biomedical HIV prevention research and rollout in South Africa. Please see our updated map and tables listing all biomedical HIV prevention studies recently completed, currently ongoing or planned in South Africa.

SA AIDS 2015 featured many relevant presentations and events. AVAC and partners have pulled together a full roadmap. Below, we’ve highlighted a few key sessions, as well as ways to link with AVAC and other advocates—both at SA AIDS and from afar.

Download the roadmap here (PDF, XLS).

• Women’s Networking Zone: AVAC partnered with The Centre for Communication Impact (formerly JHHESA) in the Women’s Networking Zone. We hosted two skills building workshops on HIV prevention research basics, covering ARV-based prevention on Wednesday, 10 June 2015, 13:30-14:30 and vaccines and cure on Thursday, 11 June, 11:30-12:30. On Thursday at 16:30-17:30, we also hosted a discussion on the Global Village Main Stage with young women about what prevention means to them.

• Results to Roll-out—Accelerating Approvals and Access of Biomedical Products after Clinical Trial Results: This symposium, co-chaired by WRHI and AVAC, discussed the latest research on strategies of delivering new products to people who need them. It took place Wednesday, 10 June, 14:00-15:30 in Hall 4.

• Hormonal Contraceptives and HIV—Evidence, Expanding the Method Mix and ECHO: This roundtable discussion explored current reproductive health options in South Africa, gaps in evidence about their link to HIV risk and plans for the future. It took place Wednesday, 10 June, 16:00-17:30 in Hall 8A.

• Not Just for Research Studies: Rolling Out Good Participatory Practice across Projects Implementation Programmes This Skills Building Workshop provided an overview of GPP principles, facilitate debate around GPP concepts and examined how GPP can be adapted and utilised for improving stakeholder engagement of implementation projects and programmes. It took place on Thursday, 11 June, 14:00-15:30 in Hall 10.

There was also a booth to meet the AVAC team, learn about the Advocacy Fellows Program and pick up copies of our materials at Stand A13 in the Women’s Networking Zone. There was also a special information session on the Fellows Program and how to apply.

As always, AVAC posted live updates from the conference on our <Facebook and Twitter pages. Follow the conference on Twitter @SAAIDS2015 and the hashtag #SAAIDS2015.