Health Minister recovers from COVID-19, leads delegation to International AIDS Conference in Canada
Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla has this week resumed his normal duties following his recovery from COVID-19 pandemic after completing 7 days of self isolation without further symptoms and severe complications.
Minister Phaahla tested positive for COVID-19 last week (Tuesday, 19 July) after experiencing minor symptoms, and immediately self-isolated. The recovery comes ahead of his scheduled international business trip to lead the South African delegation to attend the 24th International AIDS Conference to be held from 29 July to 2 August 2022, in Montreal, Canada.
The South African delegation consists of health professionals, policy makers, members of the South African National AIDS Council and leaders of civil society organisations working to prevent new HIV infections and scale up access to treatment and related health services for people with HIV.
South Africa has been participating in the International AIDS Conference for the past two decades, and this is the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS which brings together scientists, clinicians, academics, healthcare workers and people living with HIV, Non-Governmental Organisations and media from across the world under one roof to share progress made in the fight against the pandemic and best practices, innovations to prevent the spread new infections.
Minister Phaahla will join and participate in a number of satellite sessions including the discussions around “Moving forward with actions: 90/90/90 recovery towards 95/95/95” to be led by Dr Thembisile Xulu - Chief Executive Officer of SANAC. He will also use this opportunity to hold bilateral meetings his counterparts from other countries, executive leaders of development and donor funding organisations including PEPFAR and Global Fund.
Amongst the key topics to be discussed during the conference; Re-engage and follow the science panel discussion to be co-chaired by Prof Linda-Gail Bekker - Director of the Desmund Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town the launch of the global alliance initiative to end AIDS in Children by 2030, The Approaches for HIV cure and vaccine research and the Roundtable discussions on the future of HIV media coverage.
Other topics of interest include: The new WHO Strategies for a sustainable health sector response for 2030 and beyond, Expanding COVID-19 Vaccine coverage among people living with HIV & key populations, and The next frontier for HIV treatment optimization – Lessons from the past and visions for the future.
For more information and media enquiries, please contact:
Foster Mohale
Director Media Relations
National Health Department
Cell: 072 4323792
E-mail: Foster.mohale@health.gov.za
Nelson Dlamini
Communications Manager
South African National AIDS Council
Cell: 078 731 0313
E-mail: nelson@sanac.org.za
