EACCR Researcher Makes Presentation at the International AIDS Conference 2024

At the 2024 International AIDS Conference, surrounded by researchers, clinicians, policy-makers, and, most importantly, young advocates, Marion Sumari stood proudly beside her poster. Her work, titled “Acceptability of Point-of-Care Viral Load Monitoring Among Children and Young People Living with HIV in East Africa: A Qualitative Study,” was presented at the conference from 22nd to 26th July 2024 in Munich.

Marion’s research is based on children and adolescents living with HIV facing unique challenges: stigma, fear, inconsistent access to care, and limited input in decisions that affect their health. Her study, rooted in East Africa’s lived experiences, explored whether point-of-care (POC) viral load testing—providing quick results at the clinic level—could be a tool not just for better treatment but also for hope and empowerment.

World AIDS Day 2024 was being commemorated under the theme “Put People First.” This theme emphasises prioritising the needs, rights, and voices of individuals and communities most affected by HIV. It advocates for designing HIV responses that are centred on people, ensuring that services are accessible, inclusive, and tailored to the diverse identities and experiences of those impacted by the epidemic. By putting people first, the conference aimed to foster a more compassionate and effective global HIV response.