Ciheb at the 25th International AIDS Conference

MUNICH- At the end of July, members of Ciheb convened at AIDS 2024, the 25^th International AIDS Conference hosted by the International AIDS Society (IAS)  in Munich, Germany. The symposium, an annual gathering of global experts in the field of HIV/AIDS, showcased more than 40 oral abstract sessions, 50 invited-speaker sessions, 20 workshops, 30 symposia sessions, 100 satellite sessions, and 2,200 posters.

IAS offers a chance for engagement with other organizations and experts, exchanging knowledge and exploring potential collaborations. This year, Ciheb's representatives presented their oral presentations and posters, sharing the latest findings and discussing strategies that have proven effective in various regions.

“Presenting our oral presentation and poster presentations was a great opportunity to showcase and disseminate some of the important work that we have been doing in Zambia,” said Dr. Cassidy Claassen, Country Director of Ciheb Zambia. Ciheb's contributions highlighted their approach of integrating HIV services with other health programs, an approach that has shown promise in improving overall health outcomes (click here for Ciheb: What We Do). By working closely with local health systems, Ciheb ensures that these interventions are sustainable and tailored to the specific contexts in which they operate.

IAS’ social media hashtag, #PutPeopleFirst, highlights discussions at the AIDS 2024 symposium focused on person-centered care for HIV prevention and treatment. Out of the many key points from the conference (click here for Takeaways from AIDS 2024), finding a cure and the development of effective prevention methods were prominently featured, with shared stories of three HIV-cured speakers and studies of new medicines.

“For me, the most exciting news was the results from the Lenacapavir study, which showed 100% effective protection against HIV from two injections a year,” Dr. Claassen remarked.

With IAS AIDS 2025 planning underway in Rwanda, the global health communities continue efforts to address HIV/AIDS. Ciheb’s presence at this year’s symposium emphasizes a firm commitment to supporting person-centered care in low to middle-income countries.