The ICID 2024 Congress kicked off to a resounding start with its opening ceremony today. Held in Cape Town, South Africa, the event was highlighted by a poignant and inspiring rendition by the renowned author and storyteller Dr. Gcina Mhlope, who powerfully captured the theme of hope amidst the global public health challenges of infectious diseases.

Highlights from the Opening Ceremony - Recognizing Global and Local Partnerships

Dr Sipho Dlamini, co-chair of the local organizing committee, welcomed and thanked all the guests, organizers, and participants, emphasizing a promising outlook for the next three days of the conference.

Alderman Eddie Andrews, Executive Deputy Mayor of the City of Cape Town, highlighted the conference's role in fostering collaboration and promoting health equity at the critical intersection of infectious diseases and public health. The partnerships and solutions discussed during the conference are expected to inform future policy decisions.

Mr Ramphelane Morewane - Deputy Director General (Acting HIV/AIDS, TB, and Maternal and Child Health) at the National Department of Health, South Africa, expressed delight in hosting the event, noting that the collaborative discussions at the conference under the One Health framework (the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health) are expected to yield meaningful outcomes. There is great hope that ICID 2024 will facilitate the interactions that will shape behavior-change approaches to infection prevention and enhance our understanding of the far-reaching effects of climate change on human health.

Dr Paul Anantharajah Tambyah, President of ISID, extended heartfelt gratitude to the organizers, including the City of Cape Town, the Ministry of Health, the ISID team, and all partners involved. He emphasized that this conference is a unique scientific platform for LMICs to share valuable insights and expertise. The conference boasts several key highlights, including the Global Surveillance Summit hosted by the Africa CDC and the UBUNTU village, which provides a dedicated space for addressing the needs and concerns of patients and communities. While Dr Tambyah pointed out that funding may present a challenge for ISID, he remained hopeful for future commitments and looks forward to building on the momentum generated by this conference.

Prof Liesl Zühlke, Vice President, Extramural Research & Internal Portfolio, South Africa Medical Research Council (SAMRC), highlighted the grand gathering of over 1000 attendees from more than 100 countries, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and collaboration. SAMRC  acknowledges its past with a strong commitment to reducing health inequity. Indeed, SAMRC’s vision is to harness innovation, development, and technology transfer in health research to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities in both South Africa and worldwide, which aligns well with ISID’s goals.

Dr Nicolette du Plessis, President of the Federation of Infectious Diseases of Southern Africa, stressed the importance of collaborative work, which can promote health equity for vulnerable populations. She gave an overview of the infectious diseases landscape in Southern Africa and emphasized the evolving collaborations within the region and internationally, strengthening the capacity for a robust public health response to new and existing threats.

Dr Keith Cloete, Head of Department, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, expressed that the importance of One Health research cannot be overstated. It plays a vital role in maintaining a stable ecosystem and preventing the emergence of novel pathogens. He also reminded us that Infectious diseases are often closely linked to the social determinants of health and challenged the ICID2024 delegates to identify the research discoveries to help build healthier, more resilient communities.

The reception that followed the opening ceremony saw many making new connections and renewing old ones in infectious diseases, infection prevention, and control. The next few days promise to be a very exciting time for all of us, consolidating our knowledge, gaining new insights, and planning how to use these new tools.