Opening ceremony: African Summit on HIV, TB and ORID
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The African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other Related Infec-
tious Diseases (ORID) got off in Abuja, the Nigerian capital Monday
after a slow start caused by hitches in delegates' accreditation and
late arrival of dignitaries.
Nigerian Vice President, Abubakar Atiku declared the summit open at
about 11:30 am Nigerian time (GMT +1), with a call to African leaders
to see the summit as "the beginning of our collective response to the
HIV/AIDS epidemic."
The summit is unique, he noted, "as it is the first time that African
leaders are coming together with other interested parties to discuss
how to arrest the latest epidemic that is ravaging the people of our
dear continent".
The ceremony, which attracted a quiet audience of about 2,000 people,
included ministers of health, education, labour and finance from
various African nations, other stakeholders including representatives
of civil society, people living with HIV/AIDS, youth groups, pharma-
ceutical companies and officials of various United Nations agencies
and other multilateral institutions.
Earlier, Nigeria's health minister, Prof. Alphonsus Nwosu, in his
welcome address called for a collective effort to prepare a framework
document and summit strategy for confronting HIV/AIDS, TB and other
related diseases in Africa.
According to him, Africa must identify and address the determinants
and driving forces of the epidemic in the continent. Top among these
forces are excruciating poverty and heavy debt peonage situation.
"This matter must be seriously addressed by the summit if Africa is
to free itself from the clutches of disease especially those due to
HIV infection and break the vicious cycle of disease and underdevel-
opment", he said.
A HIV+ student nurse, Miss Yinka Jegede, made a statement on behalf
of people living with HIV or AIDS in Africa. Jegede, secretary- gen-
eral of the Nigerian AIDS Alliance, a support group for people living
with HIV/AIDS canvassed more intensive participation of PWHAs in the
fight against AIDS.
"PLWHAs stand at the centre of any community efforts to overcome the
pandemic. Their rights must be respected in full and their leadership
potential recognised in all facets of public life. We, PLWHA must be
involved in national policymaking, implementation, monitoring,
evaluation and our leadership potential should be recognized", she
told the audience at the International Conference Centre, the confer-
ence venue.
According to her, the lack of visibility of persons living with
HIV/AIDS, especially those in social or political positions, is driv-
ing the epidemic underground, creating an environment of denial and
fear. She also called attention to the rampant gross violation of the
rights of PLWHAs, citing the well-publicised case of Mrs. Georgina
Ahamefule in Nigeria, who was tested without her knowledge and sacked
because of her HIV status.
The Secretary-General of Organization of Africa Unity, Dr. Salim Ah-
med Salim in his address expressed the OAU's appreciation to Presi-
dent Olusegun Obasanjo and the people of Nigeria, not forgetting to
mention that the city of Abuja is increasingly becoming an important
venue for the deliberation of critical issues concerning the destiny
of African people.
Salim was quick to point out that though the Abuja was only the lat-
est in a long string of AIDS-related meetings and conferences, it was
a summit with a difference.
"Our leaders will be convening in Abuja in the next two days, this
time not to make yet another resolution or declaration, and not even
to simply underscore the gravity of the spectre in our midst. All
those have already been done sufficiently. The Abuja Summit must be a
Summit with a difference. It is intended to forge a common front for
action. It should be an action-oriented summit aiming at pooling to-
gether, in a strategic manner, the continental energies and those of
our partners in confronting this deadly pandemic", he said.
The first two days of the four-day summit are devoted to plenary ses-
sions by ministers and experts from various African countries. Over
20 African heads of states and governments are expected at the second
leg of the summit - the heads of states' summit - which kicks off on
Thursday. Among expected dignitaries are UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan and former US President Bill Clinton.
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Coverage provided by Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria in
collaboration with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Summit Media Centre
Mr. Omololu Falobi
Tel: +234-9-234-5381, 234-5413, 234-5415
Fax: +234-9-234-5487
mailto:abjsummit@skannet.com
Summit websites:
http://www.fmh-abujasummit.org
http://www.oau-oua.org/afrsummit/index.htm
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