The 4th (NHARCON) National HIV/AIDS research Conference has taken off in Accra. The event which is taking place at the Accra International Conference Centre has the theme; Ending AIDS: Rethinking Practices for Maximum Impact.

The Conference is organized by the Ghana AIDS Commission and this is done every four years. The conference is scheduled to take place between 8 -11 May 2018 and will involve between 500 and 800 local and international participants.
NHARCON 2018 is expected to serve as a platform to share ideas in support of the implementation of the current National HIV & AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) 2016-2020. It also forms part of GAC’s mandate to disseminate and share HIV and AIDS strategic information with the scientific community, academia, policy makers, programme managers, stakeholders and partners in the implementation of the National Response.

At the launch in Accra yesterday, key stakeholders reiterated the need to keep building on concerted efforts in dealing with the HIV endemic in Accra. At a time when new infections were reducing globally, Ghana as a country has had an increase in new infections especially among young people. It is expected that the three day event will get participants from around the continent and globe, policy makers, stakeholders, donors and government getting into more discussions on how to work effectively and build strong sustainable means of working on HIV AIDS in the country. Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Aviation who also represented the president His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in her opening remarks said there was the need to sustain efforts to further reduce these figures to “Zero tolerance”.

Activities scheduled include plenary sessions, side events and exhibitions. There is also a community village that is open to the general public.

Esinam Amuzu 

CYIB – Curious Minds