Calls have intensified for African countries to increase funding for their health sectors.
The clarion call was made at the first International Steering Committee meeting expected to kick start preparations for the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), scheduled to take place in Ghana next year According to the World Health Organization's epidemiology fact sheet 2023, globally, 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2022, a 38%, reduction from the 2.1 million people infected in 2010.
This means that there is a decline in new HIV infections, but the disease prevalence remains a major global public health issue, especially in Africa.
The annual International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) offers African governments the opportunity to discuss national responses and strengthen their health system to control and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other emerging infections.