EAPoC-VL Annual meeting
The East African Point of Care HIV Viral Load (EAPoC-VL) project held its second annual general scientific meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on 1011 May 2023, The aim of the meeting was to evaluate performance in period 1 & 2 of the project implementation and to establish strategies to expedite performance of research activities in period 3. The purpose of the EAPoC-VL project is to examine the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of using point-of-care viral load (PoC VL) monitoring to improve virological suppression among children and adolescents (0-24 years) living with HIV in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
The meeting objectives were to:
1) evaluate EAPOC-VL performance in period 2, share challenges and chart a way forward for the planned activities in year 3
2) share and assess student progress with scientific and research work
3) develop year three workplans and priorities including the sustainability plan.
Dr Simeon Tuyisimwe,- director of Rwanda Bio-Medical Centre, gave a keynote address on the developments in VL monitoring among children and adolescents in Rwanda. The progress and challenges encountered in implementing EAPOC-VL in period 2 and planned activities for period 3 for the different work packages were presented by the WP leads and Co-Leads. The PhD and MSc students also presented the progress of their research work, and they received guidance.