Accra: The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has commended the government and the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) for a successful International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ICASA 2025). Dr. Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, the Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission and Local Organizing Chairman of ICASA 2025, expressed appreciation at the closing ceremony to all contributors for their efforts in ensuring the conference's success.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Akanbong highlighted the exchange of new evidence and practical lessons over the past days, emphasizing the renewed commitment to strengthening the African HIV response. The conference's insights, debates, and collaborations are poised to influence national and regional actions in the future. He acknowledged the support from the President of the Republic of Ghana, whose leadership in public health and dedication to the continental HIV agenda provided substantial national backing for hosting ICASA 2025. Dr. Akanbong urged participants to maintain the momentum, build partnerships, and advance the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
The 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025) took place from December 3-8. Organized by the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), the conference's theme was 'Africa in Action: Catalysing Integrated and Resilient Health Systems for Sustainable Responses to end HIV, Other Infectious Diseases, and Emerging Threats'. About 3,000 delegates, including global experts, policymakers, researchers, community advocates, partners, and leaders from 85 African countries, participated in the five-day event.
The conference featured high-level meetings, scientific sessions, satellite symposiums, abstract and non-abstract driven sessions, special sessions, and workshops. Dr. David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, the President of SAA and ICASA, expressed gratitude to Ghana for hosting the event and thanked stakeholders, development partners, First Ladies, ministers, policymakers, researchers, and others for their support.
Dr. Parirenyatwa stated that ICASA is expanding its focus beyond mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, and Malaria, to include traditional medicine in advancing treatment. He advocated for Africa to start manufacturing its own medications, particularly vaccines, to combat diseases on the continent. He also called on African countries to mobilize domestic resources to fund their HIV responses and sustain the progress made towards ending AIDS by 2030.