As we commemorate World Aids Day on 1 December, the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHCS) is not only reflecting on the tremendous progress achieved to improve treatment and quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV), but also on how we can increase our reach and impact across the Southern African region to make our objectives a reality.
SAHCS remains committed to supporting and strengthening the capacity of its members and appreciate your commitment amid tough economic times. We value working together to educate and build the capacity of all healthcare professionals in the field of HIV across Southern Africa and to enable this further, SAHCS will be offering all healthcare professionals interested in HIV free membership for 2023.
For more than two decades SAHCS has been trusted to deliver the latest evidence-based HIV healthcare through our clinical guidelines and job aids, training courses, conferences, journals (SAJHIVMED scientific journal and HIV Nursing Matters), regular Continuous Medical Education meetings and webinars. We remain passionate about collaborating across cadres and borders to improve the lives of all those affected by HIV.
To end Aids by 2030, SAHCS has committed to increasing accessibility to our offerings and to building on existing expertise to diversify and strengthen our initiatives. Some of the most important developments are outlined below.
The SAHCS digitised Adult ART guidelines are currently being updated and will be available online in early January 2023. These continue to be authored by clinical experts from both public and private practice and are developed in collaboration with the NDoH and other key stakeholders.
Our Gender Affirming Healthcare guidelines have provided a critical platform through which quality healthcare provision to transgender and gender diverse populations can be realised. A call for skills development has led to the development of the gender affirming healthcare training course in collaboration with partners and stakeholders. Sign up to SAHCS for details on the release date for this!
Next year will see the updating of our SAHCS PEP guidelines along with the publication of our first SAHCS Syphilis guidelines. New online courses will be developed in line with feedback from SAHCS members – thank you for telling us what you want!
The 6th SAHCS Conference will take place from 8-10 November 2023 and will provide the latest in evidence-based medicine to keep clinicians informed of new therapeutics on the horizon, new strategies for management, and sessions on improving skills. SAHCS is also hosting the 30th International Workshop on HIV Drug Resistance and Treatment Strategies, to be held from 20-22 September 2023. We look forward to seeing you there!
Issued by Southern African HIV Clinicians Society (SAHCS)