AIDS Conference, Gaborone, Botswana, 12-14 November 2002
Samuels Nur, SA
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Hands Across the Divide: Managing HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa

International Conference

12 to 14 November 2002
Gaborone, Botswana

There has been much debate about whether the theme of this conference
should be presented as a statement or a question. Indeed, countries
like Uganda and Botswana are widely cited as having tackled HIV/AIDS
by propagating either prevention or treatment, or by using both as
key components of the solution in fighting the epidemic. For this
reason, this conference is being held in Botswana. We commend Presi-
dent Mogae and his people for dealing with HIV/AIDS at every level of
society: at the level of policymakers, civil society and business.

But what can be said of other countries in the region?

Despite political, budgetary and other barriers, certain government
departments, NGO's, CBO's and companies in southern Africa have taken
up the fight against AIDS. Against tremendous odds, they are managing
the impact of HIV and AIDS through prevention efforts, disease man-
agement programmes, treatment, care and support both for the infected
and affected.

These stories need to come to light, and will be told at the confer-
ence.

The solutions to fighting HIV/AIDS do not lie only with researchers
in the developed world. They are here - on our doorstep in Africa.
This conference has been arranged to give you the opportunity to
learn from the successes, to engage with the presenters, and to find
solutions for your country, in your business and in your organisa-
tion. Join hands with us - let's fight HIV/AIDS together.

Conference Programme

Tuesday, 12 November 2002

Chair: Mr Gaby Magomola [Chairperson: South African Business Coali-
tion on HIV/AIDS]

12h00 Opening - President Festus Mogae
12h30 - 13h30 Lunch
14h00 - 14h15 Keynote Address
President Festus Mogae
14h15 - 15h15 AIDS and SADEC: impact and responses
Mr Masauso Nzima (SADEC HIV/AIDS Programme Manager)
15h15 - 15h45 Tea
15h45 - 16h30 HIV/AIDS and the New Partnership for African Develop-
ment (NEPAD)
Stephen Kramer (Head: Metropolitan AIDS Research)
16h30 - 17h15 Legal frameworks in Southern Africa: barriers or aids
to HIV/AIDS intervention?
Mark Heywood (AIDS Law Project, University of the Witwatersrand)

Wednesday, 13 November 2002

09h00 - 09h45 Country Focus: Botswana - fighting AIDS at all levels
Dr Robert Greener (BIDPA)
09h45 - 10h30 Supporting a public sector response to HIV/AIDS: case
study on the introduction of ARV therapy in Botswana
Mr Donald de Korte, Project Director: The African Comprehensive
HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP)
10h30 - 11h00 Tea
11h00 - 11h45 A private sector response in Botswana
Ms Tsetsele Fantan (Debswana)
11h45 - 12h30 Country Focus: Zimbabwe and AIDS - what does the future
hold in the absence of an HIV/AIDS strategy?
Professor Alan Whiteside (HEARD, University of Natal)
12h30 - 13h30 Lunch
13h30 - 14h15 Country Focus: Lessons from Uganda
Dickson Opul (Uganda Business Coalition)
14h15 - 15h00 Managing HIV/AIDS through traditional and modern heal-
ing
Dr Yahaya Sekagya (Uganda)
15h00 - 15h30 Tea
15h30 - 16h15 Country Focus: Mozambique
Carina Winberg (AIDS Adviser: Kubatsirana) - civil society responses
Diogo Milagre (Mozambique National AIDS Council) - government and
business responses
16h15 - 17h00 HIV/AIDS, orphans and the private sector
Rose Smart (Managing Consultant: Save the Children)
18h30 - 22h00 Formal Dinner
Hosted by: Thuli Johnson, Metropolitan Botswana

Thursday, 14 November 2002

09h00 - 10h30 Panel Discussion
Gaby Magomolo (Chair)
Mark Heywood (South Africa)
Mr Donald de Korte (Botswana)
Rose Smart (South Africa)
Stephen Kramer (South Africa)
Tsetsele Fantan (Botswana)
Robert Greener (Botswana)
Masauso Nzima (SADEC)
Carina Winberg (Mozambique)
Diogo Milagre (Mozambique)
Dr Yahaya Sekagya (Uganda)
Dickson Opul (Uganda)
10h30 - 11h00 Tea
11h00 - 11h30 Closing remarks
Gaby Magomola

Conference fees

The cost of the conference is ZAR 4,900.00 (payable in South African
Rands). Fees include conference material, accommodation on Tuesday 12
November and Wednesday 13 November, and conference meals. Any addi-
tional accommodation is for the delegate's own account. All travel
costs and personal expenses (such as telephone calls) during the con-
ference are for the account of the delegate.

Payment must be received prior to the conference date. Due to limited
conference space, we advise early registration to avoid disappoint-
ment. Any booking cancellations must be received, in writing, at
least two weeks prior to the conference. A 50% cancellation fee will
be charged for cancellations after 28 October.

Travel information

The conference begins at 12h00 on Tuesday 12 November, and ends at
12h00 on Thursday 14 November. We are currently checking information
on flight options from Johannesburg to Gaborone, and will inform all
delegates of these options. Travel costs remain the responsibility of
the delegate.

mailto:[email protected] or phone +27-21-940-5780 to obtain a
registration form.

Samuels Nur
mailto:[email protected]