Empowering Communities to End HIV and AIDS

The Singapore AIDS Conference (SAC) is a multi-sectorial biennial conference focused on HIV, and was first organised in 1998. It is Singapore’s first HIV conference, and is a forum where delegates and participants from government and non-governmental organisations, volunteers, academic and healthcare institutions, and other stakeholders from the community are able to share, learn and participate in the efforts to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related deaths and zero discrimination. 

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The conference has been successful in gathering those who are working at the forefront of fields related to HIV such as clinical medicine, epidemiology, public health and community responses to the epidemic. It is also built on the principle of providing opportunities to review progress in efforts to control the epidemic, and to chart a collective course forward. More than 500 participants attend each SAC, creating a vibrant and dynamic platform for healthcare professionals, public health experts, community leaders, policy-makers, people living with HIV, and members of key affected populations come together to share and discuss ways to stop the spread of HIV, combat HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and improve care and support for people living with HIV in Singapore. 

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As of 2021, HIV remains one of the world’s most pressing public health challenges. According to the United Nations HIV and AIDS Programme (UNAIDS), there are 37.7 million people living with HIV globally; and 1.5 million people newly infected with HIV in 2020. While great progress has been made in the management and prevention of HIV, there is still much to do. In order for the dream of Ending HIV in our lifetimes to become a reality, efforts and resources must be redoubled to scale up effective interventions such as combination antiretroviral therapy, early HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis, as well as combat HIV-related stigma and discrimination. 

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This year’s Singapore AIDS Conference will be held on 10th Dec 2022, with the theme of the Empowering Communities to End HIV and AIDS. This theme recognises the critical roles played by communities of people living with HIV, key affected populations and community-based organisations in the fight to End HIV. The sessions that will be presented at SAC 2022 will address progress made towards achieving the 95-95-95 Goals for HIV/AIDS; build on the momentum and results of previous SACs; and focus efforts to sharpen and strengthen the response needed to attain our ambitious goals to End HIV.