ICAAP12 hosts intensive two-day marathon meeting to raise awareness on HIV issues

The International Congress on AIDS in Asia Pacific (ICAAP) 2015 is pleased to announce that it recently concluded an intensive two-day marathon meeting to determine the high-level content of ICAAP12, the 12^th International Congress on AIDS in Asia Pacific. The event will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 20-23 November 2015 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), Bangladesh's premier facility for international meetings and exhibitions.

The International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) is the largest forum on AIDS held in the Asia and the Pacific region. Since first held in 1990, nearly 25 years ago, the ICAAP has played a critical role in raising public awareness, building political commitment, strengthening advocacy networks and disseminating knowledge and experiences on HIV issues among stakeholders in the region. The theme of ICAAP12 is "Be the Change Towards an AIDS Free Generation: Our Right to Health" highlighting the global and regional needs for achieving an AIDS-free generation through science, innovation, community involvement and public and private partnership.

The ICAAP12's Local Organizing Committee (LOC), chaired by Syed Monjurul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh, along with experts from more than 25 countries, regional forums and communities, UN bodies and INGOs rigorously reviewed numerous abstracts, and defined and planned the plenaries, satellite and community sessions scheduled for this important global event. "People living with HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh and in the region consider this conference as a game-changer," commented Dr. Narsappa Mathew Samuel, President of the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific (ASAP). "We are especially proud that close to 30 health ministers from Asian and African regions will attend ICAAP12. We look forward to these high-level officials interacting with delegates to discuss the key issues - ending AIDS, criminalisation of sexual minorities and increasing international funding for therapy," he added.

Over 25 international and 80 national experts participated in the two-day marathon meeting, August 17-18 in Dhaka, facilitated by Ms. Amanda Ellis from Indonesia. The panel included co-chairs of five tracks, members of the LOC, Dr. Joe Thomas, Secretary General of ICAAP12 and Executive Director of Partners in Population and Development (PPD), Prof. Dr. Pran Gopal Datta, Prof. Nurun Nabi, Vice Chancellor of Begum Rokya University, Leo Kenny, UNAIDS Country Director, Bangladesh, Prof. Masayoshi Tarui, Vice President ASAP, and Dr. Tasnim Azim, Director, Center for HIV and AIDS. Over 1000 abstracts from 61 countries, (including countries such as South Africa, Russia and Iran) were submitted and reviewed.

ICAAP12 will be a veritable blend of a scientific programme combined with non-abstract driven sessions addressing a range of current and emerging issues, including satellite and plenary sessions featuring distinguished AIDS researchers, activists, leaders, policy makers and specialists, symposia sessions for the dissemination of information and creating awareness on a wide range of HIV/AIDS-related topics and skill building workshops. In addition, special sessions, such as the Shivananda Khan Memorial lecture, Investing in Affordable Health Care, and 8 high-level meetings will take place during the conference as affiliated events: Inter-Ministerial meeting, Parliamentary Forum meeting, Human Rights Commission, Senior Health Officials meeting, SAARC & ASEAN meeting, UNESCAP meeting, WHO high-level event, and the Arab-Asia Investment Summit to achieve the target of ending AIDS by 2030.

"At the end of the intensive two days, we announced a uniquely tailored, informative and robust congress programme. We are very grateful for the continued support of the Government of Bangladesh and for having the Secretary of Health and other officials attend the marathon meeting," added Dr. Joe Thomas, Secretary General of ICAAP12.

SOURCE The International Congress on AIDS in Asia Pacific (ICAAP)