Health-e News Service will be webcasting the plenary sessions of the South African AIDS conference in Durban from August 3-6, 2003. Click here

For three days, South African scientists, AIDS activists, health workers and public servants will come together under the theme ‘€œDira Sengwe’€, a seTswana phrase meaning ‘€œTake Action’€.

 Health-e News Service will webcast the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the plenary sessions, enabling the worldwide online community to follow these proceedings.

The webcast will be available approxmiately nine hours after the live delivery of the plenary sessions. Times for each webcast can be found on the Health-e website.

The webcast will also be archived which will allow any visitor to the Health-e website at anytime after the conference to re-play and analyse the addresses delivered at all four plenary sessions.

Topics & Themes

Opening Ceremony

Sunday August 3, 2003

Welcome ‘€“ Prof Jerry Coovadia & Prof Slim Karim

Introduction of the President ‘€“ Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Minister of Health

Video presentation ‘€“ Peter Piot, Chairman UNAIDS

SA National Aids Council address ‘€“ President Thabo Mbeki or Vice-President Jacob Zuma

Plenary 1

Monday August 4, 2003

HIV Genetics ‘€“ Prof Jim Mullins Professor or Microbiology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the University of Washington (USA)

Pathogenics & Treatment of HIV ‘€“ Bruce Walker

HIV Prevention ‘€“ Rod Hoff, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (USA)

Plenary 2

Tuesday August 5, 2003

Challenges in implementing HIV Prevention & Care in South Africa ‘€“ Dr Nono Simelela, Chief Director, HIV/AIDS, STIs Directorate, Department of Health.

Implementing Antiretroviral Therapy ‘€“ Experiences from the Western Cape ‘€“ Fareed Abdullah, Deputy Director-General, District Health Services & Programmes Division, W.Cape Department of Health

Epidemiology of HIV ‘€“ Dr Quarraisha Abdool-Karim, microbiologist and epidemiologist.

Closing Ceremony

Wednesday August 6, 2003

Justice Edwin Cameron, South African Supreme Court (Appellate Division)

Dr Kgosi Letlape, Chairperson South African Medical Association