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".