Reflecting on the PAHLCA Meeting in Cotonou, Benin 🇧🇯 

On May 12th, 2024, the Person-centered HIV Research Team attended the first day of The Paediatric and Adolescent HIV Learning Collaborative for Africa (PAHLCA) Meeting in Cotonou, Benin.

We were proud to have our Principal Investigator, Abdul Muminu Isah, PharmD, PhD, FPCPharm (Infec. Dis.) CSCA, our Co-principal Investigator, Gabriel Ezenri B.Pharm, CSCA and our Research Coordinator, Chukwuemeka Nwachuya, representing us at this important event.

PAHLCA aims to bring together diverse stakeholders from across the African continent through a peer-to-peer learning platform to share best practices, fostering learning, innovation, and collaboration in the field of pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS.

Meeting Details:

Dates: May 12–13, 2024

Location: Cotonou, Benin

Theme: Strengthening community service delivery to improve pediatrics and adolescent HIV services by addressing rights, gender equality, and social and structural barriers that hinder access and utilization of these services.

Focus Areas:

- Supporting country teams to strengthen community engagement and support systems.

- Improving pediatric and adolescent HIV services.

Participants:

The meeting brought together healthcare workers, policymakers, program implementers, representatives from Ministries of Health, and partners supporting pediatric and adolescent HIV services.

Organizers:

PAHLCA 2024 was organized by the Ministry of Health of Uganda, in partnership with the Benin Ministry of Health, other ministries of health, and leading organizations.

Excited to see the outcomes of these discussions and the future of pediatric and adolescent HIV services in Africa!

Our team was actively engaged in Day 2 discussions focused on empowering women, children, and adolescents living with HIV. Highlights included exploring peer support roles, enhancing stigma-free services, and strategizing for successful disclosure.

#PAHLCA2024 #HIVAIDS #CommunityHealth #HealthcareInnovation #GlobalHealth #Pediatrics #AdolescentHealth #PublicHealth