Mrs. Kagame takes part in First Ladies’ Assembly against HIV

Rwanda’s First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, was among other African First Ladies who attended the eleventh Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/ Aids (OAFLA) General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting, whose theme is “An HIV/AIDS free generation tomorrow needs caring men and women today,” is held alongside the 18th AU summit in Addis Ababa which President Paul Kagame is attending. The First Ladies’ meeting aimed at addressing issues on maternal mortality and the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS, revitalisation of OAFLA members and resource mobilisation. In her speech at the opening ceremony, the President of OAFLA; the First Lady of Namibia, Mrs. Penehupifo Pohamba, underscored the need to scale up EMTCT services with special emphasis on male involvement. A statement from the Mrs. Kagame’s office indicates that, “In Rwanda the percentage of male involvement in EMTCT services is 83 percent”. “Other guests at the General Assembly included the Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé and Mrs. Ban Soon Taek, wife of the UN Secretary General,” it adds. During the seven years since the establishment of OAFLA, the African Ladies have accomplished various goals in their countries as well as regions. The results of their efforts are increasingly visible and are making a difference in the lives of children, women and youth on the continent. OAFLA was formed in 2002 by 37 First African First Ladies with the goal of advocating for the mobilisation of awareness and resources as well as the development of leadership, policies, strategies and actions to fight HIV/AIDS at the national, regional and global level. edwin.musoni@newtimes.co.rw

National

Mrs. Kagame takes part in First Ladies’ Assembly against HIV