COLDA
Meeting category
Date(s)
18 Sep 2025 - 20 Sep 2025
Important dates
Early Registration Deadline
18 February 2025
Location
Accra, Ghana
Meeting type
Hybrid Meeting
Society on Liver Disease in Africa

8th Conference on Liver Disease in Africa (COLDA) 2025

General
What's New
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  • Registration for COLDA 2025 is open. Registration waivers and discounts are available for specific categories. Click here for fees and conditions.

Welcome

Co-organized by SOLDA and Academic Medical Education in close collaboration with regional societies, COLDA 2025 aims at empowering healthcare professionals (HCPs) to diagnose, prevent, treat, and achieve a cure for liver diseases for the benefit of patients in Africa.

This being the 8th COLDA, we continue to cultivate a platform that provides a unique opportunity for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, and other healthcare professionals in the African region. Together with support from an international community of experts, they will exchange knowledge on the latest developments and achievements in the management of viral hepatitis and liver disease with a special focus on the African context.

We aspire to provide you with a highly scientific and educational abstract-driven conference consisting of keynote speeches, state-of-the-art lectures, oral and poster abstract presentations, roundtable discussions, and debates with ample time for discussion.

We are certain that the conference will act as a catalyst for translating science into clinical practice while promoting medical education in the field of hepatology and setting up collaborations within the African region. Everyone will have an exceptional opportunity to share and acquire knowledge, and experience a wide spectrum of topics related to liver disease.

Program Chairs 2025
Local Chair
General Information 
Who Should Attend?
• Physicians
• Hepatologists
• Gastroenterologists
• Researchers
• Other healthcare professionals (nurses, clinical officers, community health workers, among others)
Meeting Objectives
COLDA aims to:

- Gather experts from the African region involved in the research, diagnosis, and management of liver diseases in an interactive conference setting.

- Discuss the diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative efforts of liver disease tailored to regional needs, translating best practices into daily practice guidance and policies.

- Contribute towards viral hepatitis elimination efforts.

- Leverage the findings from international studies through the delivery of updates from major meetings that can be applied at the local and regional levels to combat liver diseases.

- Foster new and lasting interdisciplinary partnerships and collaborations among various researchers to improve knowledge sharing with aim of combating liver diseases in Africa.
Learning Objectives
After participating in this activity, participants will be able to:

- Describe the progress achieved in combating the burden of disease associated with viral hepatitis based on the WHO guidelines.

- Outline the importance of research on diagnostic tools and treatment options for Hepatitis D and E.

- Outline the need for establishing research partnerships with all stakeholders in the region.

- Describe the value of cross-disciplinary approaches to improve the management of Liver Disease in Africa.

- Reflect on the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on liver health.

Practical Information 
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.
Badges
All participants are requested to wear the badge at all times during the conference to ensure admission to the meeting.
Certificate of Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be sent to you after successfully completing the program and post-meeting survey.
Language
The official language of the conference is English.
Translation will not be provided.
Enduring Materials
Conference materials can be obtained upon registration at the registration desk at the Conference Venue.
Disclaimer
This conference is intended for educational purposes only and aims to offer participants the opportunity to share information. The Organizing Secretariat of this event, Virology Education, cannot accept any liability for the scientific content of the sessions or for any claims which may result from the use of information or publications from this meeting. Virology Education disclaims all liability for injuries or losses of whatever nature incurred by individuals attending the conference.
Liability and Insurance
By registering for the conference participants agree that the organizers do not accept responsibility for medical-, travel- or personal insurance. Participants are advised to take out their own insurance policies.
Photographs, Audio, and Video Recording
Photographs, audio, and video recordings are not permitted at the official meeting sessions. Only the official medical writer appointed by the organization may make recordings. All presentations will be posted here as soon as possible after the workshop is finished, provided the speaker has given permission to do so.
Code of Conduct
All attendees, speakers, co-organizers, partners, endorsers, suppliers, volunteers, and employees at any of our programs are expected to observe our Code of Conduct. We cannot tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, disrespect, or the marginalization of those involved in our programs. All participants of VE and AME-organized programs are expected to treat others with dignity and respect at all times.

Any individual who feels discriminated against, harassed, disrespected, or marginalized is encouraged to report the incident(s) to VE and AME via info@amededu.com or to one of our on-site personnel.
Any participant who is found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be removed from the program.
Registration

Registration is open!

Fees and Conditions

Physical Participation

Regular Delegates 

RLS* / ECI

Industry 

Early Registration (payment before/on 18 February 2025)

€695

€50

€995

Standard Registration (payment before/on 18 July 2025)

€845

€75

€1145

Late Fee (payment from 19 July 2025)

€945

€100

€1245

  

Virtual Participation

Regular Delegates

RLS* / ECI

Industry

Early Registration (payment before/on 18 February 2025)

€595

€50

€895

Standard Registration (payment before/on 18 July 2025)

€745

€75

€1045

Late Fee (payment from 19 July 2025)

€845

€100

€1145

   

Discounts
Early-Career Investigators / Academia from Resource-Limited Settings (RLS)* WITH accepted abstract 50% Off Early Fee
Early-Career Investigators / Academia from Resource-Limited Settings (RLS)* WITHOUT accepted abstract 50% Off Current Regular Fee
NGO Representatives / Government Representatives (i.e. MOH, NIH, NIAID, etc.) / Advocates 50% Off Current Regular Fee
Members of Endorsers   25% Off Current Regular Fee

 Sponsors 

Contact Secretariat 

*Countries included in the low-income and middle-income economies list of the World Bank Classification

Important
  • We strongly advise that you register early to ensure your registration. Registration will close when the capacity of the venue is reached.

  • Submission of your online registration does not guarantee that your registration has been accepted. Your registration is final when full prepayment has been received and a confirmation of your registration has been sent.

Registration Fee Includes
For onsite attendees:

- Access to all scientific sessions, including poster area

- Conference pack, including abstract book and program

- Refreshments during the coffee breaks

- Buffet lunch on meeting days

For virtual attendees only:

- Access to all scientific sessions

- Digital workshop pack, including the program

IMPORTANT:

- No day rate is available

- Payment can only be made by credit card.

- Virology Education reserves the right to cancel improper registrations. Claims for a refund will not be honored.
Group Registration
For registration of groups larger than 5 participants, please contact the conference secretariat to use the Group Registration Portal.
Early-Career Investigators / Academia from Resource-limited Settings (RLS)
We are pleased to offer 50% discount on the Early Fee for early-career investigators and academia from low-income and lower-middle-income countries with an accepted abstract and a 50% discount on the regular fee without an accepted abstract.

IMPORTANT: The discount is offered to the presenting author only.

To be eligible as an early-career investigator, one should either be a current Master/PhD student or have obtained an MD/PharmD/PhD degree in the last five years. An application form needs to be completed by a supervisor and received by the Virology Education secretariat at least two weeks prior to the start of the workshop. Virology Education will contact the early-career investigator with instructions regarding the registration procedure.
Payment
By credit card only: online or by written authorization (see online registration).
Cancellation Policy
In case of cancellation, the following refunds are applicable:

- Cancellation before/on 18 August 2025: 50% refund (minus an administration fee of €40)

- Cancellation after 18 August 2025: Unfortunately, no refund will be given

If you are unable to attend the conference, a substitute delegate is always welcome at no extra charge, provided that a letter of authorization from the original participant has been received and the conference secretariat has been notified of the name of the substitute delegate before 1 September 2025. A statement (email/letter) of cancellation must be sent to Virology Education.
Liability and Insurance
By registering for the conference, participants agree that the organizers do not accept responsibility for medical, travel, or personal insurance. Participants are advised to take out their own insurance policies.
Media Registration
In order to register as a media participant for the Conference, the conference secretariat needs to receive:

1. Proof of accreditation
2. Valid identification (e.g. passport)
3. A letter from your assignment giver stating the details of your assignment (e.g. editor)
4. At least 3 previous written assignments in recognized outlets on HIV. If you are a freelance journalist, the assignments can be from different (recognizable) news outlets. Links to online publications are accepted
5. The website of the publication(s)/blog(s) that will be featuring your story on this workshop

A complimentary or reduced registration fee may apply for accredited media participants depending on availability. Preference will be given to credible print and online news sources. Please contact the conference secretariat for registration conditions.

We would like to receive a copy of your workshop report/ article once it is finalized.
All credentials will be verified by the Organizing Committee of the Workshop. Media representatives are kindly requested to register by sending the above-mentioned information to info@amededu.com.

Important: Media is restricted to the written press. Recording on film or photo is not allowed. Virology Education will request a copy of the written piece once it is finalized. Media representatives must also agree to abide by the 2020 embargo policy.
Disclaimer
This workshop is intended for educational purposes only and aims to offer participants the opportunity to share information. The organizing secretariat of this workshop, Virology Education, cannot accept any liability for the scientific content of the sessions or for any claims which may result from the use of information or publications from this workshop. Virology Education disclaims all liability for injuries or losses of whatever nature incurred by individuals attending the workshop. In case of cancellation of the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances, Virology Education cannot be held responsible for expenses made for travel, accommodation, visa applications, etc.
Program
- parallel sessions
Preliminary Program

The program for the Conference on Liver Disease in Africa (COLDA) 2025 is currently under development and subject to change.

COLDA 2025 is expected to cover the following topics, but not limited to:

  • Integration of Viral Hepatitis and NCD Management
  • Hepatitis B Cure
  • Hepatitis E Virus and Zoonotic Transmission
  • Diagnostics for Hep E
  • Metabolic Genetic Liver Disease in Africa
  • Role of Interventional Radiology and Imaging in Liver Care
Committees
Organizing Committee
Nabil Debzi
Nabil Debzi, MD
Algerian Society of Hepatogastroenterology and Endoscopy / Mustapha Hospital Algiers, Algeria
Ward, John 2023
John Ward, MD
Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, Task Force for Global Health / Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, United States
The members of the Organizing Committee are a group of carefully selected experts and inspirational leaders in their respective fields. They meet frequently to discuss the scientific program of the workshop, identify interesting topics and candidate speakers, and review all submitted abstracts.
Scientific Committee

To augment the organizing committee, the following are scientific committee members

  • Mary Afihene, MBChB, FWACP – Kwame Nkrumah University / Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana 

  • Kosh Agarwal, MD - King’s College Hospital, United Kingdom

  • Bisi Bright, BPharm(Hons), MPH, FPCPharm, FPSN, C.Psych - LiveWell Initiative (LWI), Nigeria

  • Maria Buti, MD, PhD - Hospital General Universitari Valle Hebron, Spain

  • Alice Guingané, MD, PhD - Bogodogo University Hospital Center / University of Montpellier, Burkina Faso / France

  • Jessica Hicks - The World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom

  • Kenneth Kabagambe - National Organization for People Living with Hepatitis B, Uganda

  • Olufunmilayo Lesi, MD, MBA, FWACP, FMCP - World Health Organization, Switzerland

  • Casimir Manzengo, MD, MPH - World Health Organization, Gabon

  • René-Hubert Mendo'o Medjo, MD, MPH - Africa CDC, Gabon

  • Emmanuel Musabeyezu, MD, FCP(SA) - King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda

  • Yvonne Nartey, MBChB, MSc, MPhil - Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana

  • John Rwegasha, MBChB, MMed, FRCP(Lond), MSc - Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania

  • Edford Sinkala, MD, PhD - University Teaching Hospital / University of Zambia, Zambia

  • Sonjelle Shilton, MPH - Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Switzerland

  • Mark Sonderup, BPharm, MBChB, FCP(SA), MMed - University of Cape Town, South Africa

  • Elijah Songok, MD, PhD - Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya

  • Christian Tzeuton, MD - Douala Medical School / Société Camerounaise de Gastro-Enterologie, Cameroon

  • Lewis Roberts, MBChB, PhD -  Mayo Clinic, USA

The members of Scientific Committee are hand-picked by the Organizing Committee and the conference secretariat based on their significant contributions and commitment to the field. They assist the Organizing Committee by providing them with suggestions for speakers and topics. In addition, members of the Scientific Committee participate in reviewing submitted abstracts, and play an active role during the workshop as moderators and/or chairs of sessions.
Support
Support Our Initiative

Financial backing helps us deliver an impactful meeting experience for the benefit of healthcare professionals and community representatives involved in liver diseases in Africa.
 
This collaboration plays a vital role in both the organizational as well as the scientific success of the program.
 
To show your commitment to the cause and get in touch with us for a tailored support package, please contact Magda Sevlidou at magda.sevlidou@amededu.com or call +31 30 230 7147.
 
Benefits of Support 
By supporting this program, we can offer the following advantages for your company.* Please contact us for the most recent support level benefits for this program.

  • Symposium opportunities
  • Verbal acknowledgment during the program 
  • Discounted and complimentary registrations for your representatives
  • Company acknowledgment on digital meeting materials including but not limited to newsletters, flyers, program book, the streaming platform, and our website
  • Digital advertising opportunities 
  • Social media shout-outs
  • Logo on the digital conference bag 
  • Exhibition

 
*Subject to the support level

Endorsers

A 25% discount on the meeting registration fee is offered to the members/employees of our endorsers. Please reach out to your organization for your discount code.

If you would like your organization to endorse COLDA 2025, please contact Magda Sevlidou at magda.sevlidou@amededu.com.

Previous Editions
Top-Rated Materials from Previous Edition
  

The Story of Hepatitis C: Translating Science to Clinical Reality - Harvey J. Alter, MD, MACP

COLDA 2021

Language