Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA)

The Society for AIDS in Africa was founded in 1989 at the fourth International Symposium on AIDS and Associated Cancers in Africa (now ICASA) held in Marseille France by a group of African scientist, activists and advocates in response to this epidemic. The establishment of the Society was the effect of the agitations of some African scientists for the conference to be organized on the African soil. These agitations had begun the previous year (1988) at the third meeting in Arusha, Tanzania. The conference had until then been organized outside the African continent. The cause of these scientists was supported by the Director of WHO, Peter Piot.

Mission:
An African-led and owned organization that collaborates with other national, sub-regional, regional, continental and international organizations and partners, to promote and institute policies and promote research to support governments’ national responses and approaches to fight HIV and HIV co-morbidities as well as emerging viral infections across the continent.

Vision:
SAA envisions an African continent free of AIDS, TB, Malaria and emerging infections, where the communities are empowered, with no stigma and discrimination against PLHIV, key populations and their families and where there is social justice, and equity to accessing treatment, care and support.

Goal:
To contribute towards the UNAIDS goal and the AU catalytic framework of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and achieving the 90-90-90 targets by 2020 in Africa, contribute to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and also serve as the platform to strengthen the Health Systems in Africa towards an Universal Coverage.