About AWACC This annual workshop started in 2007 as a joint effort of the Centre for AIDS research (CFAR) of Harvard Medical School and McCord Hospital (MH), Durban South Africa. The workshop received great acclaim for its relevance to the growing ART roll out programme in South Africa (SA) and the ongoing need to care for people living with HIV(PLWH) and those living with advanced HIV disease and comorbidities. Through clinical and academic input from several institutions and experts, the KZN HIV program has benefitted by an improvement in the quality of care for PLWH in every district. The workshop has also created a network from where research and health systems strengthening programs have evolved. Several partners involved over the years were: Infectious Diseases (ID) Unit of the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital of Harvard Medical School ,HIV, TB, STI (HAST) Unit of the KZN Department of Health (DOH) , SAHIV Clinicians Society and the Centre for AIDS Research SA (CAPRISA). The conference is geared towards the public and private health sector health care workers, researchers and managers.
Aims: The two-day interactive workshop will translate the latest evidence-based research and apply best practice models of care into good clinical practice, specifically for resource constrained areas
Objectives: · Provide updates in the management of PLWH with new ART regimens , opportunistic infections, comorbidities and treatment failure in resource-scarce settings. · Educate on issues related to HIV in the pediatric population, the PMTCT programme and women. · Develop experienced clinicians to work independently and serve as consultants in HIV medicine in different district and community health institutions, and create an opportunity for networking between HIV clinicians, academicians, researchers and policy makers. · Plan with managers and clinicians within the DOH to achieve priorities in service delivery and health system strengthening ,especially in reaching the UNAIDS target of 95-95-95 by 2030.
The conference is organised yearly by Medical,Clinical and Academic Teaching (MEDICATE)-AIDS, NPC The cost of registration for AWACC 2022 is R4500 per delegate . 14 CPD points will be allocated. Please consider participating in this year’s workshop which takes place at Tsogo -Sun Elangeni Hotel in Durban on 27 and 28 October 2022 .Your funds will go towards sponsorship and payment of costs related to the speakers and delegates who require to be subsidised for the registration costs. Medical-AIDS DIRECTORS: Dr Henry Sunpath (MBBS; MFam Med; Dip HIVMan; MPH), Mr. Nash Maharaj (NDM Accounting), Dr. Christina Edwin (MBBS; DipHIVMan; MPhilPal Med)
Dr Henry Sunpath (Chairperson) Dr. Raj Gandhi (ID Unit Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School)Prof MYS Moosa (ID Unit, NRMSM at UKZN)
The conference has attracted clinicians (nurses and doctors and pharmacists) from the private sector and public sector. Each year between 300 and 400 delegates have attended. Many medical aid administrators, pharmaceutical reps, heatlh department officials and paraclinical workers have also been part of the workshop.
