TIRET October 2012 Issue - MIDROC Ethiopia

ased response on HIV/AIDS/STIs, TB and Malaria to
achieve the MDGs.
• Use as a forum to link and hold accountable political
and national leaders, the scientific community,
practitioners, communities, civil societies, the private
sector and partners to scale-up and sustain the
response.
• Create opportunities to define priorities and set policy
and program agenda to enhance mobilization and
effective utilization of resources.
The ICASA 2011 Conference theme “Own, Scale-up
& Sustain” emphasized the importance for African
governments, civil society organizations, private sector,
communities and individuals to own and lead the response
to HIV/AIDS at all levels, as well as the critical need to
sustain what has been achieved while enhancing scalingup
of all responses to the epidemic.
The Conference deliberated on many timely and
important issues in the prevention and control of HIV/
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa. Scientific papers
highlighted areas of development in prevention, treatment,
care and support. Community sessions highlighted the
community’s involvement in the prevention and care of
the disease and the mitigation of its various impacts. The
leadership sessions emphasized the roles of individual and
organizational leadership in the control of the pandemic.
Various recommendations were made to be implemented
by program leaders in Africa.
The Conference served as a global platform to promote the
efforts and achievements of African countries in combating
HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. It provided an opportunity
to further strengthen partnership among governments,
civil societies, communities, scientists, activists, partner
agencies and the global AIDS community. A unique
opportunity was provided to review the collective progress
made towards universal access and the attainment of
MDGs. The challenges facing the fight against HIV/AIDS,
TB and Malaria and the prospects for better prevention,
control and management were shared by the delegates.
The focus on Africa, relevance of program content to
current challenges of HIV response in the continent and
the international dimension were the added values of
ICASA 2011.
Some of the benefits gained by Conference delegates
include: increased understanding of the HIV epidemic in
Africa; new contacts and opportunities for partnership and
collaboration; increased understanding of the challenges
to achieve treatment access in Africa; motivation, renewed
energy and sense of purpose; new knowledge and insight
into HIV and STI prevention; new skills including best
practices; shared information with colleagues, peers and
partners; influence on work focus and approach of parent
organizations.
Ethiopian scientists submitted a record number of 347
abstracts and 59% of these were accepted and presented
creating a unique opportunity to highlight the research,
prevention and care work being done in HIV/AIDS, TB and
malaria in the country.
ICASA 2011 is hailed by most participants as the best
ever ICASA. This is in terms of organization, scientific
content, logistics and security. This is achieved through the
concerted efforts of a number of key players.
Dr Tedros Adhanom, the Minister of Health, who has
personally selected and put together a team of highly
committed professional volunteers to organize and lead
the various committees of ICASA 2011. This team was
working relentlessly under the personal guidance of the
Minister for the past several months. MIDROC Ethiopia,
a leading private corporate entity, has also contributed a
staff member who was leading the Leadership Program
Committee of ICASA 2011.
The Millennium Hall, where the Conference was held
specially refurbished with new meeting and event halls,
air conditioning, audio visual facilities, furniture, etc in a
very short time. The whole facility was provided free of
charge to the Conference. The catering services along with
the hall’s facilities have added comfort and color to the
Conference leaving an indelible image of the conference
and the country in every participant. Thanks to the
Hall, Ethiopia’s capacity to host big meetings has been
demonstrated to everyone beyond a shadow of doubt.
The financial contribution of Sheikh Mohammed H. Al-
Amoudi, owner and Chairman of MIDROC Ethiopia has
exceeded USD 10 million and is far in excess of any other
major donors to ICASA 2011. The Conference, assessed
by most participants as the best, could not have been held
at all leave alone have the glamour it had if it was not
for the timely and unreserved contributions and personal
follow up of Sheikh Mohammed H. Al-Amoudi, Owner and
Chairman of MIDROC Ethiopia.
Sheikh Mohammed Ali Al-Amoudi instructed the
refurbishing of the Millennium Hall and personally followed
up the development and completion. This time again
he made our beloved country Ethiopia, its citizens and
leadership proud. All the people and organizations involved
in ICASA 2011 are extremely proud of his contributions
in recognition of which the Ethiopian government has
awarded a Special Medal to him, on a special ceremony
held at the Grand Palace.
TireT October 2012 41