Luc Armand h. Bodea
The Director for International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), Mr. Luc Armand H. Bodea, has cautioned the public that HIV is no longer deadly but rather ignorance of one’s status is more deadly.
In an interview at the 35th anniversary of the Society for AIDS in Africa ( SAA) and the 23rd edition of ICASA 2025 celebrated in Accra, he said, “HIV is no longer a deadly disease, what is deadly nowadays is people ignorant of their status,” stressing that the pills and injectables available helps persons living with HIV to live longer.
Mr. Bodea added that the injectables taken for six months is safe, and urged the youth to know their HIV status and start treatment immediately when they test positive.
He expressed excitement as the founding leaders of ICASA were present to grace the occasion, stressing that this year’s celebration is important to Ghana since the president convened the health sovereignty in Africa which brings African leaders, health ministers and global partners to redefine health governance as well as foster self-reliance on the continent.
He added that Africa should be able to produce its own vaccines without reliance on external funding, emphasising that the road should be carved for the next generation to survive without influence from the western world.
He further noted that African leaders should come together in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Also, the Founder and President of IRESSEF and co-discoverer of HIV-2, Prof. Souleymane Mboup, mentioned that there has been a lot of progress in combating HIV as compared to 35 years ago, adding that the new perspective of drugs discovered helps in the effective management of the disease.
He said, “Before it was 18 pills a day, but today you can take a pill or injection every six months, so it is progressive.”
He added that the way forward now is how to make the drugs available to the African population.
By Florence Asamoah Adom