|
Botswanan chosen as new UN envoy to tackle HIV/AIDS in Africa
Accra, May 22, GNA – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday
appointed a Botswanan policymaker and activist as his new
Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa and renewed the terms of three
other regional envoys.
Elizabeth Mataka, a Botswanan who is currently Executive
Director of the Zambian National AIDS Network and Vice-Chair of
the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria, was chosen to replace Stephen Lewis of the United
States, whose contract expired at the end of last year,
according to a statement issued in Accra on Tuesday by the UN
Information Centre.
A social worker by training, Ms. Mataka has 16 years’ experience
in the HIV/AIDS field, working in Government, the private sector
and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on HIV prevention
programmes, clinical treatment for opportunistic infections and
community and national schemes for the care and support of
sufferers.
Announcing the appointments, the same day the General Assembly
is holding a session reviewing implementation of the Declaration
of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, Mr. Ban thanked the Special Envoys
for their work to advance the UN agenda on the issue in the
regions they cover.
“Working with a wide range of partners, including governments
and civil society, they have helped mobilize and strengthen
responses in many countries,” he said in a press statement
accompanying the announcement.
“In particular, they have been instrumental in advocacy on
issues related to women and AIDS, championing the greater
involvement of people living with AIDS in national responses,
and promoting support from the private sector,” added Mr. Ban.
GNA
|
