Theme: Prevention and Mitigation of HIV AIDS
Occasion: 37th World AIDS Day with a motto of “Taking the right path- My health my right”.
Seven studies were presented at the international symposium on “Advances in HIV prevention and mitigation” held virtually on Friday Dec 13, 3024.
One of the keynote and two of the contributed presentations were based on data from a local survey undertaken by Tigray Health Resesrch Institute (THRI) in collaboration with stake holders. The other three keynote presentations were from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
The main organizer of the event, Prof Mulugeta Gebregziabher from MUSC brought together co-organizers from Ayder College of Health Sciences (CHS) at Mekelle University, Aksum University CHS, Tigray Health Resesrch Institute (THRI), and Bahli Tigray to realize this timely event.
The studies from MUSC focused on three issues: HIV AIDS prevention and mitigation strategies in a conflict setting, Advances and Possibilities for for HIV AIDS self-testing, Advances in the treatment and prevention of HIV AIDS including PrEP. Dr Korte (Professor of Epidemiology) and Dr Meissner (MD, PhD and Director of HIV AIDS and HPV care) presented the two seminal studies based on their profound expertise in the research and care of HIV.
The three studies from Tigray were presented by Dr Gebretsadik Berhe (Professor at Ayder CHS), Ms Kibirti Mehari (PhD student at Ayder CHS and Resesrcher at THRI) and Mr Berhane Ayele (MPH, THRI). Dr Meskelu Kidu (MD, Director of clinical affairs at Ayder Hospital) also presented on ongoing and future HIV AIDS awareness creation plans.
The findings of the studies include:
- study on commercial sex worker: from a survey of 1146, the prevalence of HIV was 8.6%. The study on commercial sex worker was undertaken in Sheraro, ,Shere, Adwa, Adigrat, Qedamay weyane (mekelle), Mekoni
- study on IDP: from a survey of 677, the prevalence of HIV was 5.5%. The study on IDP was from participant sites in Shere, Adwa, Adigrat, and Mekelle.
- study on the community: from a survey of 6010, the prevalence of HIV was 3% compared to 1.3% before the war.
- One very important finding based on subsample analysis is STI and HIV prevalence among those affected by SGBV during the war. There were 57 women (10.4%) that reported experiencing SGBV among the 677 in the IDP campus. From those 86% reported that they were by Eritrean , Ethiopian and Amhara forces. Shockingly, the STI prevalence was 10.5% and the HIV prevalence was 8.8%.
The event was opened by Dr Kibrom Gebreselassie (MD, Chief Executive Director of Ayder CHS) and Dr Hermes Florez (MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences).
The moderators of the event included Dr Hayelom Kahsay (THRI), Dr Meskelu Kidu (Ayder Hospital), Dr Mussie Alemayehu (Ayder SPH), Gebreamlak Gidey ( AKU CHS). We are very grateful to Bahli Tigray (Gere Martebey) for their amazing cultural performance that gave the event an aura of positive vibe.
The participants were from all over the world including from Australia, Europe, Africa, USA, Middle East.