About the Conference

The international practice-oriented summit “ORCA: Outreach Response for Community Access” will take place on 25–26 September 2026 in Wissenschaftszentrum Kiel, Fraunhoferstraße 13, Kiel (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) and will serve as a practical platform for exchanging experience and developing solutions in the fields of HIV and STI prevention, testing, and work with vulnerable populations.

The event aims to strengthen and further develop low-threshold approaches in the context of substance use, addiction, and chemsex. These areas are associated with increasing risks of HIV, hepatitis, and other infections, as well as additional medical and psychosocial challenges. At the same time, communication and contact with target groups are increasingly shifting to digital environments, requiring adaptation of traditional prevention and outreach models.

The summit is not designed as a traditional academic conference, but as a structured format for international knowledge transfer and the development of practical solutions, with a focus on applicability, adaptability, and sustainability across different health systems in Europe, taking into account regional specificities.

A key component will be the participation of international experts and practitioners from various European countries (including Portugal, Poland, France, the Nordic countries, and others), as well as representatives of communities. Participation of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and representatives of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is also planned.

Confirmed Speakers

International experts and practitioners will be announced as confirmations are received.

Christine Stegling

Director of Management and Partnerships

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Germany

Prof. Dr. Kerstin von der Decken

Minister of Justice and Healthcare

Schleswig-Holstein

Germany

Stela Bivol

Regional Adviser on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections

WHO Regional Office for Europe

Kazakhstan

PD Dr. med. Viviane Bremer MPH

Head of the Unit for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted or blood-borne infections

Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Robert Koch-Institut

Germany

Sven Warminsky

Bundesvorstand

Deutsche Aidshilfe

Germany

Alexei Lakhov

Policy advisor

European Network of People who Use Drugs

Germany

The Summit will include

  • Practical workshops on low-threshold HIV and STI testing
  • Sessions focused on prevention and counselling in the context of chemsex and substance use
  • Discussions on digital outreach and communication tools including messaging platforms and online environments
  • Presentation and analysis of international practices with a focus on their adaptation to regional contexts
  • Small group work to develop practical solutions and implementation models
  • Moderated discussions on stigma, access to services, and cross-sectoral collaboration
  • Engagement of health system representatives and decision-makers to support institutional uptake of results

Target Groups

  • Professionals working in addiction services
  • Staff and volunteers of low-threshold services including streetwork and outreach
  • Professionals in HIV prevention, testing, and counselling
  • Representatives of health authorities and decision-making structures at regional and municipal levels
  • Representatives of communities and peer-led organisations

Indirect target groups include people with substance use disorders and other vulnerable populations, particularly those at increased risk of HIV, who will benefit in the medium term from improved access to prevention, testing, and support services.