Reflection piece by: Nicky Suwandi
Knowledge Management & Innovations Officer, APCOM
Global Village Activities
I feel incredibly fortunate to have attended the 25th International AIDS Conference #AIDS2024 last July in Munich, Germany. My first experience was at #AIDS2022 in Montreal, Canada, which took place during a period still considered part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, I spoke about sexualized drug use (chemsex), a topic close to my heart as a gay man and one that remains a major focus of my work for the Asia region. I consider that experience my ‘debut’ on the international stage, and returning to this important conference, which takes place only once every two years, was a continuation of this journey that I really appreciate.
#AIDS2024 marked my second opportunity to speak at the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS. This time, I had the honor of joining the Organizing Committee for the Key Populations & HIV Prevention Pre-conference, thanks to Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC). I chaired a session discussing the Global HIV Prevention Roadmap for Key Populations, which was an exciting opportunity. The pre-conference, supported by Gilead Sciences, took place on 20 July 2024, at Messe München, the same venue as the main conference.
The roadmap we discussed was developed by the Global Key Populations HIV Prevention Advisory Group (KPAG) and several allied stakeholders during a global event which I attended in Cape Town, South Africa, sometime in mid-2023. Published at the end of 2023, it outlines a strategy for equitable expansion and a coordinated, key populations-led approach to implementing HIV prevention interventions. As a KPAG member who were involved in crafting this roadmap, it was particularly rewarding to see our work in action during the session I chaired. The speakers were all familiar faces from KPAG, which helped the session run smoothly.
The roadmap focuses on four global priorities: funding, community rights, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), and treatment as prevention (widely known as U=U). It became a central theme of the pre-conference, emphasizing the need to ensure key populations are not left behind in the global HIV response, while aligning with the #AIDS2024 main theme, “Put People First!” Our message was clear: it’s time to foster partnerships, share knowledge, and amplify the voices of those most marginalized.
Another highlight was meeting my two amazing colleagues, Chilufya Hampongo from Zambia and Kenneth Mwehonge from Uganda. We are the three Civil Society Organization Representatives on the Long-Acting PrEP Coalition Steering Committee. The coalition, hosted by AVAC, aims to accelerate access to long-acting PrEP options. Our most notable work includes a series of virtual symposiums featuring long-acting PrEP manufacturers such as Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, and Pop Council, as well as generics makers Aurobindo, Cipla, and Viatris. Having only met virtually since the three of us were elected at near the end of 2023, meeting in person was a real treat.
The main conference itself was filled with fantastic workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions. While hardly anything was particularly new to me, the excitement about Gilead Sciences’ Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable PrEP showing 100% efficacy, was clearly evident. This groundbreaking news for HIV science emerged just a month before the conference. I hope this life-saving drug becomes accessible and affordable for those who need it most. There’s still much work to be done, and I’m eager to continue collaborating with others – at the country, regional, and global levels – to make it happen.
The absolute highlight for me, though, was the chance to connect with people. Catching up with old friends, making new ones, and experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of the Global Village, with thousands of attendees, was awe-inspiring. I was delighted to see our work on HIV virtual intervention assessments in Bhutan, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka, as well as chemsex interventions in Sri Lanka, presented as posters led by my dear friend and colleague Philips Loh. These initiatives, supported by The Global Fund’s Sustainability of HIV Services for Key Populations in South-East Asia (SKPA-2) Program, were showcased in the exhibition hall.
Reflecting on my experience, I feel blessed and thankful but also somewhat guilty to be among the privileged who managed to attend the conference. I’m aware of the challenges many faced with visa-related issues, particularly participants from the Global South (including my region, Asia and the Pacific), and how these barriers impacted participation. As an Indonesian, I understand this struggle well. It’s heartbreaking to see these barriers persist, especially with this year’s theme, “Put People First!” I hope that for the next conference in 2026, the organizers choose a host city in a more inclusive manner to ensure all voices are heard and that the level of participation is more diverse.
Finally, a personal note. I am confident in my interpersonal skills, which come quite naturally to me, but public speaking has always been a challenge. I remember feeling an anxiety at #AIDS2022 that I wasn’t familiar with – a panic rush I don’t usually experience when speaking at country or regional workshops or virtually at webinars. This year, however, I felt much more relaxed and enjoyed the experience more, despite less preparation. My key takeaway from #AIDS2024 is that practice makes progress. I may never be perfect, or even particularly good, but I’m moving forward, and that’s what matters.
