AIDS 2024 pre-conference
Sunday, 21 July 2024 | 08:00 – 16:30
In partnership with the International AIDS Society (IAS) and the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI), WHO is organizing this pre-conference on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The pre-conference aims to mobilize advocacy efforts in support of a more effective global STI response, by uniting a diverse group of stakeholders – including civil society, community leaders, researchers, students, public health and clinical experts, programme managers, policymakers, and funders – to control STIs and move towards the targets of ending the STIs epidemics by 2030. The meeting serves as a platform to emphasize the significance of STIs within the broader context of global health and the global HIV response, to cultivate new collaborations, and to mobilize advocacy efforts in support of a more effective global response.
The meeting serves as a platform to emphasize the significance of STIs within the broader context of global health and the global HIV response, and builds on the momentum from the first forum in Berlin, Germany, following the World Health Summit 2023. Participants will have an opportunity to exchange knowledge and perspectives on three critical accelerators – increasing political commitment, accelerating innovation and strengthening community mobilization – each seen necessary to effectively control STIs and move towards the global 2030 targets.
Location
Munich, Germany, München Messe, Room 1/Channel 2Participation
Separate registration for this hybrid event is not required; however, in-person or virtual participation is only possible for those registered for the AIDS 2024 conference or those who have purchased a pre-conference pass. Those registered will have online access to all pre-conferences streamed live on the virtual conference platform, as well as access to pre-conference session recordings. More information on registration
For virtual participation, this pre-conference will be streamed live on Channel 2 of the virtual AIDS 2024 platform. Online programme for all pre-conferences
Agenda
| Why STIs matter: Insights from WHO, IAS and IUSTI Session 1 | 08:00 – 09:00 |
This opening session will provide key insights into the global impact of STIs, featuring expert perspectives from leading health organizations. The session will also include an update on new developments in STIs, including the latest WHO guidelines related to STIs, and hot topics such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), STIs in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services, and the use of AI.
Chair: Meg Doherty, Director of WHO Global HIV, Hepatitits and STIs Programmes, HHS | Co-chair: Teodora Wi, STIs Team Lead, WHO Global HIV, Hepatitits and STIs Programmes, HHS
Why STIs matter: Insights from WHO, IAS and IUSTI | Welcome and WHO perspective – Meg Doherty IAS perspective – Andrew Grulich IUSTI perspective – Janet Wilson |
What’s new in STIs? Key technical updates | Launch of the WHO STI M&E framework – Jane Rowley (WHO) WHO STI guidelines – Teodora Wi (WHO) AMR in STIs – Magnus Unemo (Örebro University, Sweden) Linking STIs to adolescent health services (PrEP and PHC) – Saiqa Mullick (WITS RHI, South Africa) AI and STIs case management – Eric Chow (IUSTI) |
| Accelerating innovation: What is new and what is needed for STIs? Session 2 | 09:30 – 11:00 |
This session will focus on innovation, identified as a critical accelerator for change to effectively control STIs. This will include the launch of the WHO global STI research agenda, and a series of speakers discussing new developments in prevention, diagnostics and treatment. A panel discussion will follow on the critical next steps to advance and adopt STI innovation.
Chair: Eric Chow (IUSTI) | Co-chair: Remco Peters (WHO)
Launch of the WHO global STI research agenda | Sami Gottlieb (WHO) |
What’s new in STIs? Prevention, diagnostics, and treatment | |
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Accelerating innovation: Advancing the global agenda for STI innovations | |
Framing session: Barbara Van Der Pol (University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA) Panel discussion Panellists:
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| Strengthening community mobilization: Empowering communities to lead STI advocacy and service delivery Session 3 | 11:30 – 12:30 |
This session features a panel discussion on the second critical accelerator, community mobilization. Vital for effectively addressing the complexities of STI challenges, community mobilization requires meaningful engagement and empowerment of diverse actors.
Chair: Andy Seale (WHO) | Co-chair: Marlène Bras (IAS)
Strengthening community mobilization: Empowering communities to lead STI advocacy and service delivery Panel discussion | Framing session: Midnight Poonkasetwattana (APCOM, Thailand) Panellists:
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| Envisioning the future of STIs Session 4: 13:30 – 14:30 |
This session will explore the future of STIs. It will be followed by a debate on the role of DoxyPEP for STI prevention and control.
Chair: Teodora Wi, STIs Team Lead, WHO Global HIV, Hepatitits and STIs Programmes, HHS | Co-chair: Ben Plumley (Hunuvat, USA)
Envisioning the future of STI control | Keynote session – Jeanne Marrazzo (Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA) |
The DoxyPEP debate: To DoxyPEP or not to DoxyPEP? | Framing session: Nicholas Medland (Kirby Institute, Australia) Debate:
Feedback:
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| Towards 2030 – Increasing political commitment for STIs Session 5 | 15:00 – 16:30 |
This session will feature a panel discussion on the third critical accelerator: political commitment. This is a fundamental element as an effective control of STIs necessitates adequate funding, multisectoral policies and dedicated programmes. This closing session will also share key insights on the way forward towards the 2030 targets and will highlight critical STI-related sessions at AIDS 2024.
Chair: Birgit Poniatowski, Executive Director, IAS| Co-chair: Meg Doherty (WHO)
Five pleasure tips for reducing STIs | Rhiana Mills (The Pleasure Project, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) |
Increasing political commitment: Building support and investment for STIs Panel discussion Framing session: Nicola Low (University of Bern, Switzerland) Panellists:
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Closing session: Towards 2030 and highlights for AIDS 2024 | Ines Perea (Ministry of Health, Germany) Jérôme Salomon (WHO, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases) Beatriz Grinsztejn (incoming IAS President) |