SA National AIDS Conference 2007

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, in partnership with UNAIDS and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), hosted a satellite session at the 3rd South African AIDS Conference in Durban, on 6 June 2007.

The objective of this session was to reflect strategically on the nature of the response to the disease in the past 25 years and engage in an in-depth prospective appraisal of possible future interventions that are required to respond to the epidemic in the next 25 years and beyond. The satellite session was facilitated by Mr Achmat Dangor, chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. This groundbreaking satellite session also focused on the critical role of effective leadership in the response to HIV and AIDS and how to ensure accountability for commitments made.

The panelists were: Dr Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS; Prof Alan Whiteside, executive director of Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD); activist Zackie Achmat, and Dr Desiree Daniels, executive manager of Metropolitan AIDS Solutions.

The panelists reflected on critical issues such as the fundamental drivers of the epidemic, leadership and resources, scaling up prevention, treatment and care and a long term agenda and investment for an AIDS-free generation, ie key elements for a sustained response to HIV/AIDS response. Dr Poit gave a global perspective while the other panelists focused on South Africa.