The Person-Centered HIV Research Team (PeCHIVReT) proudly participated in the 13th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), held from July 13–17, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda. This prestigious global gathering brought together scientists, policymakers, activists, and health leaders to advance the frontiers of HIV prevention, treatment, and care.

Representing PeCHIVReT were Lydia Efobi, a PharmD candidate from Nigeria, and Fonji Anne Eleanor, a young pharmacist from Cameroon, both serving as research interns with our team. Their participation reflects our commitment to nurturing the next generation of African researchers and amplifying youth voices in the global HIV response.

Engagement in Pre-Conferences and Global Sessions

Our interns were actively involved in a series of pre-conference symposia and workshops that focused on critical and emerging issues in HIV research:

• Fonji Anne Eleanor attended sessions on Co-Infections, Viral and Host Diversity and Women Know What Works, highlighting the importance of gender-transformative approaches and scientific innovation in HIV cure research.

• Lydia Efobi participated in the 11th Symposium on Children and Adolescents with Perinatal HIV Exposure, gaining insights into long-term care, mental health interventions like the Friendship Bench model, and policy debates on follow-up strategies for perinatally HIV-exposed children.

Both interns engaged in plenary sessions including the WHO Guidelines Update on Prevention, Testing, and Treatment, where global experts highlighted the need to expand access to PrEP, integrate long-acting injectable prevention methods, and tailor infant HIV prophylaxis using risk stratification models.

These experiences reinforced PeCHIVReT’s mission to ensure that African researchers, particularly women and early-career scientists, are equipped to contribute meaningfully to evidence-based, equity-driven HIV responses.

Showcasing PeCHIVReT Research

The conference also provided a platform for our team to present ongoing research that aligns with our person-centered approach to HIV care:

1. Poster Presentation:
   “Person-centric Models for HIV and Mental Health Care Integration: Evaluating Horizontal Service Delivery for HIV-Positive People Who Inject Drugs in Abuja, Nigeria”
   Authored by our Co-Principal Investigator, Gabriel Ezenri, this work highlights how integrated, horizontally structured HIV and mental health services can improve outcomes for key populations facing stigma and structural barriers.

2. Oral Poster Presentation:
   “The Double Burden: A Cross-sectional Study of the Intersection Between Mental Health and Access to HIV Prevention Services for Female Sex Workers in Internally Displaced Camps in Calabar, Nigeria”
   Presented by Lydia Efobi, this study addresses the overlapping vulnerabilities of mental health and HIV risk among female sex workers in displacement settings, emphasizing the urgent need for trauma-informed, rights-based interventions.

These presentations exemplify PeCHIVReT’s commitment to conducting impactful, inclusive, and community-informed research that addresses the realities of underserved populations.

Empowering the Next Generation of African Researchers

Throughout the conference, Lydia and Eleanor actively participated in networking sessions, advocacy spaces, and interactive booths such as the ViiV Healthcare commitment wall, where they pledged their personal commitments to ending the HIV epidemic. They also attended high-impact sessions like The Power of Prevention by Gilead Sciences, which underscored the role of science, advocacy, and country-led strategies in achieving sustainable HIV prevention.

By engaging in these global dialogues, our interns not only represented PeCHIVReT but also carried forward our vision of a people-centered, equity-driven HIV response. Their participation demonstrates the transformative power of mentorship, exposure, and opportunity in shaping future African leaders in health research

Looking Ahead

IAS 2025 reaffirmed that the future of the HIV response must be inclusive, innovative, and person-centered. At PeCHIVReT, we remain committed to building a strong pipeline of young African researchers and advancing solutions that leave no one behind.