Dhaka hosts 12th Int’l congress on AIDS in Asia-Pacific in Nov

Dhaka – The 12th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP12) will take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 20 to 23 November 2015 under the theme: Be the Change for an AIDS Free Generation, Our right to health. This congress will be hosted by the government of Bangladesh in collaboration with Partners in Population and Development (PPD) as co-host; will bring together over 3,500 delegates from the region and beyond. More than 200 high level Government officials; several UN mission heads and distinguished national and international HIV and AIDS researchers, advocates, policy and community leaders and representatives of Non-Governmental organizations, Key affected populations,  Civil Society and people living with HIV will take active part in the Congress.Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the Congress that will attract around 400 speakers who will contribute to various sessions during the three days of ICAAP12. 26 Government Ministers from the region from the health and other related sectors are expected to attend the Congress and participate in the Inter-Ministerial conference on Every Woman, Every Child and Every Adolescent that will culminate in the Dhaka Declaration capturing political commitment and guidance for further acceleration of regional efforts on HIV and AIDS towards ending AIDS by 2030.
An Investment summit titled ‘Arab-Asia Business Summit- Investing in Health Care’ will also be held simultaneously as an affiliated event which will create desired scope for potential investment to strengthen the health sector.
The preparation for the conference is on in full swing. As part of the conference preparation a ‘Marathon meeting’ started, Monday at BRAC CDM at Khagan, Ashulia, Savar. The Inaugural   session of the marathon meeting was Chaired by Dr. Joe Thomas, Sectary General of ICAAP12 & Educative Director, Partners of Population and Development(PPD). Syed Monjurul Islam, Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare &  Chairman, Local Organizing Committee(LOC) was present as Chief Guest. The session was address by
The Co-Chairman of ICAAP12- Prof. Nurun Nabi; Dr. Tasnim Azim; Habiba Akter and Prof. Dr. Kamrul Hasan Khan. Regional Director of Communicable Diseases of WHO, Dr. Swarup Sarker and UNAIDS country Coordinator Leo Kenny also spoke in the opening session.
To finalise the scientific and community programme, a team of over 25 international experts along with a large number of national experts and community representatives, members of ICAAP 2015 executive committee, and observers form  UN and international bodies are attending this 2 days planning meeting. – Press release