8th South African AIDS Conference

The South African AIDS Conference (SA AIDS) took place June 13-15 at the International Convention Centre in Durban. SA AIDS is an energizing, biennial conference that brings together a cross-section of the people and organizations sustaining the HIV/AIDS movement in South Africa.

This year’s theme, The Long Walk to Prevention: Every Voice Counts, comes at a critical time for HIV research and rollout in South Africa. In a time of both great uncertainty, but also of exciting dynamism in the prevention field, AVAC is thrilled to see the conference focusing on this essential component of a comprehensive AIDS response.

We gathered a full roadmap of prevention research oriented events and presentations. Download our roadmap here, and the full conference program here.

Key Sessions

• Community Village — An interactive and participatory space to discuss cutting-edge issues in HIV, share knowledge and skills and network. Open to conference participants and to the general public.
• Research Literacy Networking Zone — Wits RHI in partnership with AVAC, SAHTAC and APHA will disseminate research literacy materials and conduct fun and educational games focused on HIV prevention research R&D and advocacy. The zone will be located in the Women’s Networking Zone within the Community Village.
• HIV Prevention and SRHR Masterclass
  Tuesday, June 13 – Thursday, June 15, 7:00 – 8:30 — Hosted by the African Alliance for HIV prevention at the Hilton Hotel.
• Satellite Session: PrEP (sponsored by Gilead)
  Tuesday, June 13, 11:30 – 13:00 — Located in Hall 8b.
• Up Your Game: Play to Learn About HIV Prevention and Research
  Tuesday, June 13, 12:00 – 13:00 — An HIV prevention research literacy game hosted on the main stage in the Community Village by AVAC, WRHI, SAHTAC and APHA.
• Dapivirine Ring Licensure Program
  Tuesday, 13 June, 18:00 – 20:00 — This interactive satellite session, hosted by IPM, will showcase the developments in the dapivirine vaginal ring program. Located in Hall 5.
• Basic Science: Putting the spanner in the works – the nuts and bolts of HIV prevention
  Wednesday, June 14, 9:00 – 11:00 — A roundtable plenary discussion with leading scientists. Located in Hall 1.
• Improving HIV prevention by investing in research and development and services
  Wednesday, June 14, 11:30 – 13:00 — This workshop will provide health advocates and technical experts from the HIV prevention sector a platform to share ideas on how to improve implementation of R&D policies, and streamline regulatory processes that support the development, introduction and scale of high-impact health technologies in South Africa. Located in Hall 10.
• Contraception and HIV: What they say, what we hear, what needs to change — a young women's dialogue
  Wednesday, June 14, 18:00 – 20:00 — A roundtable dialogue with young advocates. Located in the Women's Networking Zone.

AVAC posted live updates from the conference on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Blogs were posted on the WhatsUpHIV blog. The conference was on Twitter at @SAAIDS2017 and used the hashtag #SAAIDS2017.