The conference organisers expect to welcome over 10,000 delegates from around the world including scientists, health workers, policy makers, people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), community leaders and activists working in the fields of HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STI), tuberculosis and malaria.
The conference will be an excellent opportunity to promote sectoral achievements in AIDS response and to strengthen the partnership among governments, civil societies, development partners and other stakeholders.
DanChurchAid (DCA) is supporting African NGOs, Faith Based Organisation (FBOs), and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in their struggle to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS, reduce stigma and discrimination and give direct support to infected and affected households in DRC, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and many other countries in the region. DCA's support consists of multiple approaches including focus on faith, culture, and gender aspects of culturally-sensitive preventative measures that are easily replicated by communities and community-based organisations with local resources.
DCA with its local Action by Churches Together (ACT) alliance members and the Ethiopian Interfaith Forum for Development, Dialogue & Action (EIFDDA) has joined one of the three Core groups, Community Core Group, responsible for the coordination and planning of the ICASA’s activities. The ACT alliance/EIFDDA consortium will highlight the valuable contributions of FBOs to the fight against HIV & AIDS in Africa with special focus on Ethiopia.
The Community Programme components include pre-conference activities on the role of FBOs to OWN, SCALE-UP, and SUSTAIN HIV responses, representing community programme in scientific programme in the selection of abstracts on community issues, setting up community villages to provide a forum for PLWHV, and many additional responsibilities.
For more information on ICASA, click here
By Fikerte Abebe