2nd International Paediatric HIV Symposium in Africa

1-2 December 2023, Harare, Zimbabwe

Theme of the symposium

What can we do differently: Closing the gaps in paediatric HIV prevention, care, testing and treatment

It is yet another exciting moment for me to welcome you to the second edition of the International Pediatric HIV/AIDS Symposium for Africa (IPHASA) 2023! This time round, the meeting will be held as a face to face meeting in Harare Zimbabwe. We are so delighted to meet you in person. With all of us across the globe, rallying behind the newly launched Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children by 2030, the IPHASA 2023 theme is also aligned to this initiative and is, ” What Can We Do Different: Closing the Gaps in Pediatric HIV Testing, Care and Treatment”. We need “TO TURN OFF THE FAUCET, SO THAT WE DO NOT KEEP MOPPING THE FLOOR”. At this year’s meeting, our focus will be to share experience on what we can do differently to improve on the efficiencies in our programs for children living with HIV. We will challenge ourselves on how best we can do more with less and still have great impact. We will exchange ideas on innovative ways to integrate and sustain what we do. The voices of caregivers and health workers will be heard. You do not want to miss this year’s meeting. It is therefore my greatest pleasure to welcome you to IPHASA 2023!

Eleanor Namusoke-Magongo, IPHASA Founder and Chair

Background

Globally, 2.73 million children younger than 15 years are living with HIV; 160,000 children acquired HIV in 2021 and 110,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred in that year. The African continent is the epicentre of the HIV epidemic, with almost 85% of vertical infections occurred in African countries. Levels of access to ART vary across Africa, at 56% in the east and south and 35% (the lowest) in the western and central regions.

In addition, 14.9 million children worldwide lost one or both parents due to AIDS-related deaths in 2021. These gaps are hampering the path towards achieving the 95-95-95 goals for paediatric and adolescent populations and demand strengthened efforts to improve testing, treatment and retention in the HIV care cascade.

Substantial evidence is generated in the field of paediatric HIV services. However, translation of that evidence into practice for Africa has been a challenge.

“The World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNAIDS have for years provided guidelines for countries in implementing HIV services for children living with HIV. However, this has not necessarily translated into policy and practice in diverse regions and countries, especially on the African continent. The aim of IPHASA is to build capacity of healthcare workers, policy makers and all stakeholders in the implementation of evidence-based approaches to reduce the “know-do” gap. At this meeting, best practices and new research findings on children living with and affected by HIV will be disseminated. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 1st International Paediatric HIV/AIDS Symposium in Africa. We hope that this virtual symposium, with its unique brand of integrating implementation science research into the programme, will contribute to improving paediatric HIV programmes on the African continent.”

Eleanor Namusoke-Magongo, IPHASA Founder and Chair.

Why attend?

IPHASA will share paediatric HIV evidence and good practices to help support in-country implementation and adaptation across the African continent. Symposium participants will include healthcare workers, policy makers, programme implementers, representatives of ministries of health and researchers working on paediatric HIV.

By attending the symposium, you will:

  • Hear the latest global and regional updates on paediatric HIV prevention, care and treatment.
  • Learn from country experiences and best practices in implementing paediatric HIV programmes.
  • Equip yourself with new knowledge and skills in implementation science.

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