STAR INITIATIVE at

ICASA 2021

6-10 DECEMBER 2021

Learn how HIV self-testing can help us achieve the UNAIDS global 95-95-95 targets and advance us towards a generation without AIDS in Africa

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 ICASA 2021

Despite decades of progress, an estimated 16% of people living with HIV globally do not know their status. And with COVID-19, access to HIV testing and treatment services have substantially declined. HIV self-testing (HIVST) can be a critical tool to address this gap.  

Offering a discreet and convenient way to test, HIVST has rapidly become a standard approach to HIV diagnosis, particularly in many high burden settings, in order to reach people from key population groups globally—during and beyond the pandemic. 

The STAR Initiative has been implementing and rapidly scaling-up evidence-based HIVST approaches worldwide. Operating in 13 countries across Africa and Asia, the STAR Initiative has reduced the number of new HIV infections and averted deaths due to HIV by increasing demand and access to HIVST with linkage to treatment and prevention services.

Join the STAR Initiative at International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2021) on 6-10 December 2021 in-person or virtually. Learn from the STAR Initiative as it demonstrates how HIVST offers a critical pathway to achieving the UNAIDS global 95-95-95 targets and advances us towards a generation without AIDS in Africa. 

From presentations to posters, symposia and other events, you’ll find below a full schedule of HIVST activities at the conference.  

And don’t forget to check back regularly, as materials will be uploaded in the lead to and throughout the conference. 

Help spread the word by using our social media toolkit. Be sure to tag us @SelfTestAfrica, and join the conversation online with #ICASA2021

SATELLITE
SYMPOSIUM

Beyond Reaching the first 95:
HIV self-testing, new experiences from the Unitaid STAR Project

DATE: Wednesday, 8 December
TIME: 12:36 – 13:21 SAST
ORGANIZERS: STAR Consortium, Population Services International 

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has rapidly become a standard approach to HIV diagnosis in many high burden settings in particular in Africa as well as reaching people from key population groups globally.   

Through HIVST, alternative entry points for accessing healthcare have been created and this has accelerated simplification for communities and healthcare workers providing an opportunity to transform infrastructure, delivery models, community engagement and demand for COVID-19 and other diseases. 

In this session we will be discussing new approaches to HIVST delivery including HIVST as entry point to HIV prevention and other health services and self-care options, including family planning and sexual and reproductive health, developed through the STAR Initiative. 

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CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6

Differentiated service delivery for HIV treatment: Updated WHO recommendations and implementation in Africa

TIME: 10:40 – 11:25AM SAST
ORGANIZERS: International AIDS Symposium (IAS) and World Health Organization (WHO) 

SESSION DETAILS

Towards universal healthcare coverage through Diagnostics testing integration

TIME: 12:25 – 13:10 SAST
ORGANIZERS: ABBOTT

SESSION DETAILS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7

Au-delà de populations clés : la distribution secondaire de kits d’autodépistage du VIH en Afrique de l’Ouest Beyond key populations: secondary distribution of HIVST kits in West Africa

TIME: 12:36 – 13:21 SAST
ORGANIZER: Solthis-Projet ATLAS 

SESSION DETAILS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8

Rapid tests/auto tests: HIV & COVID-19

SPECIAL SESSION
TIME: 14:30 – 15:15 SAST

SESSION DETAILS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9

HIV self-testing: lessons learned and perspective

TIME: 10:42 – 11:27 SAST

SESSION DETAILS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10

Implementation of 2019 HIV testing services: From 2 test to 3 test HIV testing strategy

TIME: 10:42 – 11:27 SAST
ORGANIZER: WHO

SESSION DETAILS

ON DEMAND
SESSIONS

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