The 11th SA AIDS Conference took place from 20-23 June at the Durban International Convention Centre under the theme of Act, Connect and End the Epidemic. As a key stakeholder in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the SAMRC was well represented at this three-day conference, calling for action and reigniting the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In terms of media visibility, the SABC reported on key moments from the opening session and conducted follow-up interviews with key speakers, including the SAMRC’s President and CEO, Professor Glenda Gray, about the HIV vaccine development work where she said, “Using immunogens, we are trying to coax the immune system to develop powerful neutralising antibodies that we saw with COVID. To have a vaccine that will work, we need neutralising antibodies, so the work we’re doing is trying to teach the immune system to induce these powerful neutralising antibodies”.
Also addressing the conference on Wednesday was Dr Terusha Chetty, Specialist Scientist in the HIV and Other Infectious Diseases Research Unit (HIDRU). She spoke about the road to eliminating mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT).
While Thursday, Ms Ncengani Mthethwa, a Project Manager at HIDRU addressed a seating on “sustaining community partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Ms Mthethwa together with Mr Mduduzi Ngubane, a Community Liaison Officer at the SAMRC Isipingo CRS, conducted interviews with SABC’s Umhlobo Wenene FM and Ligwala Ligwala FM on HIV incidences and the impact it has on communities, SAMRC interventions in these communities and the hope for South Africa in dealing with the epidemic.
Leading up to the conference, Dr Fareed Abdullah, Director at the Office of AIDS and TB Research was interviewed by SABC to provide an overview of where South Africa is now with the national response to HIV — reflecting on where a policy has not translated into more impactful and tangible results in terms of HIV treatment and prevention that should be crucial points of departure going into the conference.
A key highlight of the conference was the creative exhibition stand which saw attendees and speakers photographed next to some of the key SAMRC experts figures. This wonderful showcase also included PREPVacc info booklets and SAMRC brochures.
Spotlight featured the stand on their platforms as an ‘interesting’ display. To close it off, Dr Dashiki Kalonji closed it off with an interview with the Voice of Cape, talking about SAAIDS Conference, specifically her interests in HIV prevention, treatment of infectious diseases, maternal and child health.