The three main topics that were discussed were 'The new ART guidelines and other challenges to the treatment of HIV patients', 'Meeting the treatment and supply chain challenges of TB and Malaria' and 'The implications of the new guidelines and targets for Supply Chain Management'.
Representatives from the World Health Organisation, Partnership for Supply Chain Management, various universities and various international health institutions attended the conference.
Says Rutger van Belt, organiser of the conference: "Access to professional treatment remains a challenge in African countries, where many who are affected live in rural areas and cannot travel to hospitals or clinics. Without the proper preventative medication and treatment to those who need it most, we will never be able to win the fight against diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria and we will lose many more lives."
More than 80 healthcare professionals attended the two day conference, with delegates from Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, the United States, as well as Switzerland and the Netherlands. Media presence included the UN press agency for HIV/AIDS and Iranian State Television.
Adolf Venter, Chief Executive of Gallagher Convention Centre agrees: "A nation can be overly educated about the risks of HIV/AIDS, TB or malaria, but without the proper access to treatment and preventative drugs, the education will have no point." Venter underscores the fact that due to the many delegates from abroad, Gallagher has become a truly international convention centre.
