THE 23rd edition of the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI), will be held in Zimbabwe from September 4 t0 September 7, 2022, in the resort town of Victoria Falls.
By Michael Gwarisa
The Congress will run under the theme, “Confronting Inequities in STI Prevention, Diagnostics and Care,” and will be graced by various speakers from across the world.
In an interview with HealthTimes, Charlene Thlabane Project Manager for the 23rd IUSTI congress said they expect not less than 300 attendees at the 23r IUSTI congress.
We expect that the meeting will be attended in-person by about 300 people, with additional delegates attending virtually, through a highly interactive platform that facilitates such a blended (face-to-face and virtual) conference,” said Thlabane.
The aim of the Congress according to Thlabane will be multi-fold and seeks to a number of objectives which include highlighting the burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and need for effective responses in sub-Saharan Africa where WHO STI estimates make it the most affected part of the world despite the paucity of surveillance data from the majority of the countries in the region.
“The congress also seeks to advocate for open discussion about STIs and HIV in countries constituting the IUSTI Africa-MENA region, particularly among key populations at high risk for STIs and HIV, and among adolescents. It also aims to highlight the global need for improved access to packages of interventions for the prevention and care of STIs, including HIV, particularly STI diagnostic tests, medicines and vaccines as well as sharing new scientific knowledge and the latest technological innovations pertaining to diagnosis, therapeutic management, epidemiology and sexual behaviours relevant to STIs and HIV.”
Among some of the speakers to the conference include renowned Venereologist, Dr Francis Ndowa who is the Regional Director for the Africa-MENA Region and President of the 23rd IUSTI World Congress 2022. He is also the one who put a bid to host the conference in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to the Executive Committee in 2019 and it was approved.
“Since then, the world has experienced the Covid-19 pandemic. In view of this, the Congress will feature a hybrid platform to enable delegates to participate either in-person or virtually, https://www.iusti2022zimbabwe.com/. The theme of the conference is Confronting Inequities in STI Prevention, Diagnostics and Care. The scientific programme has been constructed around this theme to seek solutions to address the inequities experienced at the global level, with focus on low- and middle-income countries,” added Thlabane.
The International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections is the oldest international organisation in this field, founded in 1923 with the aim of achieving international cooperation in the control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV infection. IUSTI is especially concerned not only with the medical aspects but also with the social and epidemiological aspects of the control of STIs, including HIV/AIDS.
IUSTI is a UK-registered charity, without political, religious or social ties. IUSTI is on the Roster of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and is an Official Non- Government Organisation in Consultative Status with the World Health Organisation. IUSTI has a central Executive consisting of the President, Secretary General, Honorary Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, together with Regional Directors for Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa and Middle East & North Africa (Africa- MENA). These officers are helped by an Executive Board composed of senior international STI experts.
Speakers for the Plenary Sessions of the conference are from all over the world, and can be viewed under Programme/Speaker on this link, https://www.iusti2022zimbabwe.com/plenary-speakers/. Speakers in the symposia are also from all over the world selected based on the scientific abstracts they submitted covering research, programme experience, innovation, etc.
Registration to attend the conference is still open and can be done online using the link, https://www.iusti2022zimbabwe.com/registration/
