By Elizabeth Nyaguyo
Zimbabwe is ready to host the International Conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa (ICASA) to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from the 4th to the 9th of December 2023.
Speaking during the 2nd curtain raiser press conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, said that the country is ready to host the ICASA
“All the government systems and structures are in place from security and transportation to and from the venue.
“We are therefore very proud to be hosting, this meeting to share our best practices while learning from the rest of the continental on other initiatives.
“Providers of accommodation services are already available to meet the various requirements of the visitors,” he said.
He went on to say that visitors should not worry about their health since everything is now under control in terms of cholera outbreak.
“You may have heard recently that there was an outbreak of cholera in some parts of Zimbabwe.
“I wish to assure you all and our visitors that the isolated outbreak has been contained and our surveillance system is exceptionally effective and has picked all cases and have been treated as part of the preparations,” he added.
Maunganidze added that December is going to be a busy month for Zimbabweans as there will be crucial meetings before the ICASA.
“Zimbabwe is going to host two high-level meetings. The first is that of the African First Ladies hosted by our first lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, which will focus on addressing mother-to-childtransmission and new infections in Africa.
“African ministers of Finance will attend the second meeting, which will focus on addressing domestic financing of the HIV response to reach the UN 2025 calls and the African Union agenda 206,” he said.
