We are proud to share that Dr. Kate Rees, Public Health Specialist at Anova, co-chaired the 12th SA AIDS Conference together with Dr. Candice Chetty from HE²RO.
Held under the theme “Unite for Change – Empower Communities and Redefine Priorities for HIV/AIDS”, the conference brought together leaders, researchers, implementing partners, academics, and advocates from around the world to reflect on the evolving landscape of HIV care and prevention. With the introduction of South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI), the emergence of long-acting therapies, and shifting global political dynamics, this year’s gathering came at a pivotal moment in the HIV response.
In addition to Dr. Rees’s leadership role, Anova had a strong scientific presence, with staff and collaborators presenting on diverse aspects of HIV prevention, treatment, and health systems innovation, including:
- Collaboration framework for working with traditional healer practitioners (THPs) in HIV services — Cathrine Chinyandura
- Using co-creation to develop a paediatric case management toolkit: description of an intersectoral process — Dr. Carol Tait
- Breaking barriers: Integrating HIV testing services into men’s daily routines to enhance testing uptake in Johannesburg Health District — Norma Tshabalala
- Higher viral suppression rates in a cohort of patients initiated on ART via index testing in Sedibeng district — Chipo Mutyambizi, PhD
- Programmatic description of PrEP service linkage to HIV-uninfected pregnant women in Cape Town Metropole facilities — Cristal Solomons
- Breaking down mental health care barriers to promote SRH service utilization amongst adolescent girls and young women in rural communities — Enock Zibengwa, PhD
Anova staff also contributed more than 11 additional posters, covering a wide range of topics and highlighting the organisation’s technical expertise and collaborative approach.
