Zimbabwe To Host ICASA

Zimbabwe has won the bid to host the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in 2023. In a letter dated 11 October 2022, the Society for AIDS in Africa informed the CEO of the National AIDS Council, NAC Dr Bernard Madzima that the verification process had ended with the selection of Zimbabwe as the host.

Part of the letter read:

“I am writing on behalf of the Society for AIDS in Africa, the custodian of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). We are pleased to inform you that based on the assessment visit conducted on the 28th of September to the 1st of October 2022 in Zimbabwe, and the deliberation of SAA Board Council members, the BID of Zimbabwe to host ICASA 2023 has been approved. However, before the official announcement, the right to host ICASA 2023 should be signed between the Society for AIDS in Africa and the host country.”

Zimbabwe is among one the countries most affected by HIV/AIDS and has lost many lives since the pandemic hit Southern Africa in the early 1990s. Massive campaigns focused on behavior change were launched and these coupled with access to better medicine have led to a significant reduction in both infection and mortality rates.

ICASA is a major platform on which stakeholders meet to review and restrategize on combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Logo and thematics will be launched soon:

“We are also planning to launch the call for the ICASA 2023 Logo as well as the Call for ICASA 2023 thematics during the event of ICASA 2023 Host country MOU signatory and announcement. Dear Dr. Bernard Madzima kindly accepts our congratulations as the host of ICASA 2023 and extend our greetings to the President of Zimbabwe, the Vice President, and the good people of Zimbabwe. We believe that ICASA 2023 will be a turning point in our quest to strengthen the health system in Africa towards the end of AIDS.”