The Sunday News
AFRICAN football legend and former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o Fils is set to arrive in the country next week for the 18th International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (Icasa) to be held in Harare.
The conference starts on Sunday next week and ends on 4 December at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Eto’o is among several other iconic figures to grace the event, who include the only person to have been “cured” of HIV in the world, famously known as the “Berlin Patient”.
First Ladies of the 54 African countries are also expected to attend the event, the biggest conference on Aids and STIs in the continent.
The former Cameroonian national team captain and former African footballer of the year, is expected to jet in on Sunday next week, accompanied by his wife Georgette.
Press and Communications officer for the Icasa local secretariat Mr Walter Mawere told Sunday News that Eto’o will officially open the Community Village at the conference.
The Community Village, avails a platform for People Living With HIV (PLHIV), key populations, community leaders, and their partners to showcase their programmes, services, best practices, sharing experiences and strategies on how to scale-up and sustain the response to HIV.
“Samuel will be coming into the country accompanied by his wife on 29 November, leaving on the 2nd December. He is coming to officially open the Community Village on 30 November.
“He is a role model to many young people so he felt that if he addresses young people on HIV and sexually transmitted infections the message will have a lot of impact and meaning,” she said.
The Community Village, which Eto’o is expected to open, also provides a forum for people to appreciate and exchange African arts and traditions in relation to Aids and STIs.
Mr Mawere also revealed that the conference will also be graced by the “Berlin Patient”, Mr Timothy Ray Brown, the only known person in the world to have been “cured” of HIV.
Mr Brown had HIV for 12 years before he became the first person in the world to be cured of the infection following a stem cell transplant in 2007.
Mr Brown was “cured” using a stem cell from a donor who was naturally resistant to HIV infection.
The stem cell donor had a specific genetic mutation called CCR5 Delta 32 that can protect a person against HIV infection.
Scientists say the virus is not able to enter its target, the CD4 cells.
After the stem cell transplant, Mr Brown was able to stop all antiretroviral treatment and the HIV has not returned.
Mr Mawere said the Berlin Patient comes to Zimbabwe as an example of how far the world has gone in managing HIV.
His visit comes at a time when the country is preparing to start its first ever HIV vaccination trial in February next year.
“The Berlin Patient is a good example to Zimbabwe and the world on how far as the world we have gone from a period where HIV/Aids was seen as killer disease to a period strides have been made in making it a disease that can be managed and also cured,” he said.
Other high profile guests who are expected to attend the conference include Mr Michel Sidibe — executive director of UNAids, Dr Leila Pakkala — Unicef Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti — WHO Regional Director for Africa and Dr Babatunde Osotimehin — United Nations Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund.
Mr Mawere also revealed that more than 3 500 people had registered to attend the conference at the close of the registration deadline on 10 November.
He, however, said more guests were still expected to register as those who missed the online registration could register on site during the conference.
“We are expecting 4 000 people as some will register on site. At the moment we cannot distinguish how many are Zimbabweans and work is in progress to come up with the exact figures,” he said.
The conference is expected, among other things, to showcase new research findings and celebrate the successes achieved in the fight against HIV over the years.
Delegates are expected to review the HIV and Aids response mechanisms adopted by countries, as well as come up with ways of strengthening partnerships among governments and co-operating partners.
The conference will run under the theme: “Aids in the Post 2015 era: linking Leadership, science and human rights.”
