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NHASORC 2003: The First National HIV/AIDS/STI/ Other Related Infectious
Diseases (ORID) Research Conference
Organised by:
National AIDS Coordinating Agency in collaboration
with all stakeholders and developmental partners
To be held at:
The Gaborone International Convention Centre
(Botswana, Gaborone)
7th -11th December 2003
Conference Background
Over the years, the role of researchers and scientists
in Botswana has taken a back stage in all matters relating to the
existing policies, strategies and programming environment. The current
state of HIV/AIDS/STI/ORID research in Botswana needs strengthening.
Research done so far has tended to be donor driven, poorly coordinated
with limited coverage and overemphasis on sero-prevalence; KABP
studies, and inadequate focus.
As part of the national efforts to understand the
HIV/AIDS Epidemic and National response issues, the National AIDS
Coordinating Agency (NACA) in collaboration with all stakeholders
and development partners have found it necessary to hold the first
ever National Research Conference on HIV/AIDS/STI/ORID (NHASORC)
research. It will be held on 7th to 12th December 2003 in Gaborone.
The theme of the conference is as follows:
"National HIV/AIDS/STI/Other Related Infectious
Disease (ORID) Research: Providing the Evidence for Improved National
Actions"
(Ntwa e Bolotse)
The main aim of the National research conference is
to provide a platform for National, Regional and International Researchers
and Research Institutions that have conducted HIV/AIDS/STI/ORID
Research in and about Botswana to share research data and experience.
The meeting will also identify research gaps, scope of utilization
of research data, existing sources of funding of research and impediments
to research coordination in the country. The conference will be
used as a framework for and streamlining National research priorities
and dissemination modalities in line with the National Strategic
Framework.
The specific objectives of the conference therefore are as:
- To promote the utilization
of existing research data on or about Botswana
- To identify the strengths and gaps of HIV/AIDS/STI/ORID
research in the country
- To identify national research
priorities throughout the lifespan of the National Strategic Framework
- To establish a regular and
sustained National and international HIV/AIDS/STI/ORID Research
Networking body
- To facilitate local researchers
to contribute to national and global knowledge on HIV/AIDS/STI/ORID
- To mobilize local and international
resources to commence effective coordination of HIV/AIDS/STI/
ORID Research in the country
- To create a platform for national
HIV/AIDS/STI/ORID Researchers to network
A multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary Local Organizing
Committee (LOC) has been constituted to manage the preparation and
implementation of the Conference. The terms of reference of the
LOC are:
- advocacy on the importance of the conference to
the National AIDS Council, all top policy makers, development
partners, researchers and other stakeholders in or outside Botswana,
- effective management of conference preparation
and its activities,
- coordination of all the sub-committees,
- mobilization of the needed resources, management
of the Conference secretariat,
- mobilization of National and International participation
particularly from the SADC Region.
NHASORC Conference Sub Themes
The conference tracks will cover research information
on the following areas:
- Track One: Basic science, vaccine
and vaginal microbicide research
- Track Two: Policy, society and
HIV/AIDS
- Track three: Community care
and support; role of PLWA (persons living with HIV/AIDS)
- Track four: Approaches to HIV
prevention
- Track five: Clinical and therapeutic approaches
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