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First Ladies agree to make a
difference in curbing HIV/AIDS
Accra, July 2, GNA- Madam Theresa Kufuor, First Lady of
Ghana on Monday called on African First Ladies to resolve to
make a difference in helping curb the spread of HIV/ AIDS on
the continent.
Addressing the fifth General Assembly of African First
Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) in Accra, as part of the
on-going AU Summit, she said till date, a large section of
the African population still did not believe that they were
at risk and therefore were not ready for voluntary testing.
“This attitude underlined the current policy of the World
Health Organisation which request our countries to make
HIV/AIDS test accessible to all,” she told the over 40 First
Ladies attending the meeting.
Madam Kufuor said it was no secret that Africa bore the
brunt of the pandemic, with over two-thirds of all global
infection.
“Colleague First Ladies, as we meet here to review our
progress in the fight, let us resolve to increase our
commitment to assist our various governments to continue to
be ambitious in setting national targets on HIV prevention,
treatment, care and support and work seriously towards our
achievement in dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“We also need to mobilize for the development of leadership,
policies, and strategies to fight HIV at the national,
regional and international levels”, she said.
Madam Kufuor said women and girls were at the heightened
risk of HIV/AIDS infection due to their economic, social,
political, sexual subordination and violence and sexual
assault.
She therefore expressed the hope that the day’s
deliberations would contribute significantly towards
accomplishment of the major objectives of advocating for
increased awareness.
Madam Maureen Mwanawasa, President of OAFLA called on
African leaders and their spouses to join forces to fight
the spread of the pandemic.
She said HIV/AIDS was likely to remain on the continent for
a long time, but how far it spreads and how much damage it
causes was up to the leaders and their first ladies who were
the mothers of Africa.
“As Mothers, we cannot afford to stand by and watch AIDS
redefine the meaning of childhood for millions of our
children,” adding that, it was important that as mothers,
they embrace interventions that would promote the birth of
an HIV/AIDS free generation.
Madam Mwanawasa said it was for this reason why the “Save
the Unborn Child First Ladies Campaign” was chosen as the
focus of OAFLA activities in the coming year.
She explained that OAFLA has identified Prevention of Mother
To Child Transmission (PMCT) as a prevention strategy which
will save the future generation from HIV/AIDS.
She said although most governments have been implementing
PMTCT by almost a hundred per cent, a number of gaps have
been identified in the delivery system including inadequate
training of staff, insufficient community involvement and
ante natal clinics not male friendly.
Madam Mwanawasa said OAFLA would complement national
framework of action in the implementation of PMTCT programme
by filling in recognized gaps at community level.
She reaffirmed the First Ladies’ commitment towards the
fight against HIV/AIDS through the many strategies being
adopted, especially advocacy.
The United Nations System made up of UNICEF, World Bank and
UNAIDS commended the OAFLA for their contribution in the
fight against HIV/AIDS and their choice of PMTCT.
They pledged their support to OAFLA on the fight against
HIV/AIDS and to help them achieve their objectives.
Dr Roger Salla Ntounga, Country Coordinator for Ethiopia and
Representative to African Union said the commitment of
African countries at the highest level had led to important
advances in the response to the menace.
“Indeed, a lot of progress has been made and there was some
good news last year particularly in the reduction of HIV
prevalence in several countries”.
GNA
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