The symposium ‘HIV Mortality Trends in Africa in the Treatment Era: New Evidence from the ALPHA Network’ takes place on Monday 18^th July (Session Room 13) from 17:00 – 19:00.

Since the introduction of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) mortality has fallen dramatically in African countries affected by HIV. However, almost all the evidence about HIV-related mortality before, during and after ART roll-out is based on models, or on data collected from health facilities which do not capture mortality among HIV positives who are not in care.

Over the last ten years, the ALPHA Network, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has analysed data on new HIV infections and on AIDS deaths collected by partners in ten closely monitored communities in Malawi (Karonga), Uganda (Rakai and Masaka), Kenya (Kisumu and Nairobi informal settlements), Tanzania (Magu and Ifakara), Zimbabwe (Manicaland) and South Africa (Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal).

This symposium will be of particular interest to those involved in planning and executing the response to HIV in the countries which host the ALPHA Network partner institutes.  The estimates made by the ALPHA partners are based on regular, detailed observations from surveys in real communities – they can be used as a reality check on the national or sub-national estimates made for these countries by national and international experts and modellers.

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