First Lady to address continental AIDS meet

The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame is expected to attend the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA)—the biggest continental meeting on AIDS and STI’s. The 5-day meeting will be held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, from December 4, under the theme “Own, Scale-Up and Sustain.” Mrs. Kagame, co-founder of Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) will deliver a keynote on Monday at a special First Ladies’ roundtable discussion. She will participate in a discussion on “the justification for the engagement of First Ladies in the fight against HIV and AIDS.” The session will deliberate on the efforts made and leadership provided by the spouses of African leaders towards achieving an HIV free generation, with the aim of enhancing commitment and action. The ICASA conference will host more than 10,000 delegates from around the world including scientists, health workers, policy makers, people living with HIV (PLHIV), community leaders and activists working in the fields of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, Tuberculosis & Malaria. The conference provides a forum for exchange of experiences and lessons learnt in Africa and around the globe in responding to HIV/ AIDS and STIs, Tuberculosis and Malaria. A key significance of the ICASA conference is that 2011 marks 30 years after AIDS was discovered as a new disease. edmund.kagire@newtimes.co.rw

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First Lady to address continental AIDS meet