E-DRUG: Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, TB and Other Diseases
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http://www.oau-oua.org/afrsummit/HIV-AIDS%20TB%20ORID%20ABUJA%20DECLARATION.htm
ABUJA DECLARATION ON HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND OTHER RELATED INFECTIOUS DISEASES
We, the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of
African Unity (OAU) met in Abuja, Nigeria from 26-27 April 2001, at a
Special Summit devoted specifically to address the exceptional
challenges of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious
Diseases, at the invitation of H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria and in accordance with the agreement reached
at the Thirty-Sixth Ordinary Session of our Assembly in Lom�, Togo from
10 to 12 July 2000.
2. We gathered in Abuja to undertake a critical review and
assessment of the situation and the consequences of these diseases in
Africa, and to reflect further on new ways and means whereby we, the
leaders of our Continent, can take the lead in strengthening current
successful interventions and developing new and more appropriate
policies, practical strategies, effective implementation mechanisms and
concrete monitoring structures at national, regional and continental
levels with a view to ensuring adequate and effective control of
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases in our
Continent.
3. We are deeply concerned about the rapid spread of HIV
infection in our countries and the millions of deaths caused by AIDS,
Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases throughout the
Continent, in spite of the serious efforts being made by our countries
to control these diseases. Africa is exceptionally afflicted by the
HIV/AIDS epidemic. This generalised epidemic is affecting a wide
cross-section of our people, thus decimating the adult population, the
most productive group, and leaving in its wake millions of orphans, and
disrupted family structures.
4. We recognize the role played by poverty, poor
nutritional conditions and underdevelopment in increasing
vulnerability. We are concerned about the millions of African children
who have died from AIDS and other preventable infectious diseases. We
are equally concerned about the particular and severe impact that these
diseases have on children and youth who represent the future of our
continent, the plight of millions of children orphaned by AIDS and the
impact on the social system in our countries.
5. We are particularly concerned about the high
incidence of mother to child transmission, especially given the
challenges of infant breastfeeding in the context of HIV infection on
the continent.
6. We recognize that special efforts are required to
ensure that Africa�s children are protected from these
pandemics and their consequences and that the full and effective
participation of young people in prevention and control programmes is
essential to their success.
7. We recognise that biologically, women and girls are
particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. In addition, economic and
social inequalities and traditionally accepted gender roles leave them
in a subordinate position to men.
8. We appreciate the special needs and challenges of the
HIV/AIDS pandemic for the youth that make them vulnerable to infection
and adverse impacts of the epidemic.
9. We recognize that the practice of injectable drug abuse with
sharing of contaminated needles in some African countries is a major
concern. The abuse of alcohol, marijuana and other mind-altering drugs,
which is on the increase among the youth further enhances their
vulnerability to HIV infection.
10. We recognize the essential place that education, in its
widest sense has played and will continue to play in the fight against
HIV/AIDS in Africa. Education constitutes the most powerful, cost
effective tool for reaching the largest number of people with
information and personal development strategies that promote long-term
behaviour change.
11. We acknowledge that forced migrations due to war,
conflicts, natural disasters and economic factors including unilateral
sanctions imposed on some African countries, lead to an increased
vulnerability and the spread of the disease; we note that special
attention should be given to migrants, mobile populations, refugees and
internally displaced persons in national and regional policies. We also
note that special attention should be given to the problem trafficking
in human beings and its impact on HIV/AIDS.
12. We are aware that stigma, silence, denial and
discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) increase the
impact of the epidemic and constitute a major barrier to an effective
response to it. We recognize the importance of greater involvement of
People Living with HIV/AIDS.
13. We recognise that the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Other Related Infectious Diseases constitute not only a major health
crisis, but also an exceptional threat to Africa�s development, social
cohesion, political stability, food security as well as the greatest
global threat to the survival and life expectancy of African peoples.
These diseases, which are themselves exacerbated by poverty and conflict
situations in our Continent, also entail a devastating economic burden,
through the loss of human capital, reduced productivity and the
diversion of human and financial resources to care and treatment.
14. We recognize the need to intensify our efforts in all areas
of research such as traditional medicines and vaccine development.
15. We are fully convinced that containing and reversing the
HIV/AIDS epidemic, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases should
constitute our top priority for the first quarter of the 21st Century.
We are equally convinced that tackling these epidemics should constitute
an integral part of our continental Agenda for promoting poverty
reduction, sustainable development and ensuring durable peace and
political security and stability consistent with the Millennium African
Recovery Programme.
16. We recognise and commend the efforts by our respective
national Governments, our continental Organisation and its Regional
Economic Communities (RECs), the national and international NGOs, the
civil society, including youth, women, people with disability, religious
organisations, sport organizations, Trade Unions, Employers
organizations, Traditional Health Practitioners, Traditional Rulers,
people living with HIV/AIDS and individuals, who care for, support and
sensitise our people to the threat of HIV/AIDS and the associated
opportunistic infections including Sexually Transmitted Infections
(STIs).
17. We acknowledge the support that the international
Community, including the United Nations System, its Specialised Agencies
and programmes, bilateral agencies, private sector and other communities
and stakeholders have provided in raising awareness about and combating
the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious
diseases in Africa.
18. We further acknowledge that, to successfully implement a
comprehensive and multisectoral approach and campaign to overcome
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases, there is a
need to secure adequate financial and human resources at national and
international levels.
19. We recognize the need to establish a sustainable source of
income to fund HIV/AIDS programmes.
20. We recognise the importance of leadership at all levels in
the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious
Diseases in our Continent. We, therefore, acknowledge the special
importance of the �African Consensus and Plan of Action: Leadership to
overcome HIV/AIDS� adopted at the African Development Forum 2000 as the
outcome of a wide-ranging process of consultation with all stakeholders.
21. In this regard, we recall and reaffirm our commitment to all
relevant decisions, declarations and resolutions in the area of health
and development and on HIV/AIDS, particularly the �Lom� Declaration on
HIV/AIDS in Africa� (July 2000) and the �Decision on the adoption of the
International Partnership against HIV/AIDS� (Algiers 1999).
WE SOLEMNLY DECLARE AS FOLLOWS:
22. We consider AIDS as a State of Emergency in the continent.
To this end, all tariff and economic barriers to access to funding of
AIDS-related activities should be lifted.
23. To place the fight against HIV/AIDS at the forefront and as the
highest priority issue in our respective national development plans. To
that end, WE ARE RESOLVED to consolidate the foundations for the
prevention and control of the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Other Related Infectious Diseases through a comprehensive multisectoral
strategy which involves all appropriate development sectors of our
governments as well as a broad mobilisation of our societies at all
levels, including community level organisations, civil society, NGOs,
the private sector, trade unions, the media, religious organisations,
schools, youth organisations, women organisations, people living with
HIV/AIDS organizations and individuals who care for, support and
sensitise our population to the threat of HIV/AIDS and associated
opportunistic infections and also to protect those not yet infected,
particularly the women, children and youth through appropriate and
effective prevention programmes.
24. To that effect, WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO TAKE PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP for the activities of the National
AIDS Commissions/Councils. WE THEREFORE RESOLVE to lead from the front
the battle against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious
Diseases by personally ensuring that such bodies were properly convened
in mobilizing our societies as a whole and providing focus for unified
national policy-making and programme implementation, ensuring
coordination of all sectors at all levels with a gender perspective and
respect for human rights, particularly to ensure equal rights for people
living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA).
25. WE ALSO COMMIT OURSELVES TO ENSURE that leadership role is
exercised by everyone in his/her area of responsibility in the fight
against HIV/AIDS and other related diseases. WE THEREFORE ENDORSE the
�African Consensus and Plan of Action: Leadership to overcome HIV/AIDS�
adopted during the Second African Development Forum on �AIDS: The
Greatest Leadership Challenge� organised by the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa (UNECA) in collaboration with the OAU, UNAIDS and
ILO (Addis Ababa, 3-7 December 2000).
26. WE COMMIT OURSELVES to take all necessary measures to
ensure that the needed resources are made available from all sources and
that they are efficiently and effectively utilized. In addition, WE
PLEDGE to set a target of allocating at least 15% of our annual budget
to the improvement of the health sector. WE ALSO PLEDGE to make
available the necessary resources for the improvement of the
comprehensive multi-sectoral response, and that an appropriate and
adequate portion of this amount is put at the disposal of the National
Commissions/Councils for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Other Related Infectious Diseases.
27. WE REQUEST the OAU Secretariat, in collaboration with ADB,
ECA, and all other partner institutions, especially WHO and UNAIDS, to
assist Member States in formulating a continental-wide policy for an
international assistance strategy for the mobilisation of additional
financial resources.
28. WE CALL UPON Donor countries to complement our resources
mobilization efforts to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Other Related Infectious Diseases. Bearing in mind that Africa cannot,
from its weak resource base, provide the huge financial resources
needed. In this regard, WE URGE those countries to, among others,
fulfill the yet to be met target of 0.7% of their GNP as official
Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries.
29. We support the creation of a Global AIDS Fund capitalized
by the donor community to the tune of US $5 � 10 billion accessible to
all affected countries to enhance operationalization of Action Plans,
including accessing Anti-retroviral programmes in favour of the
populations of Africa.
30. WE UNDERTAKE to mobilize all the human, material and
financial resources required to provide CARE and SUPPORT and quality
treatment to our populations infected with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Other Related Infections, and to organize meetings to evaluate the
status of implementation of the objective of access to care.
31. WE RESOLVE to enact and utilize appropriate legislation and
international trade regulations to ensure the availability of drugs at
affordable prices and technologies for treatment, care and prevention of
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases. WE ALSO RESOLVE
to take immediate action to use tax exemption and other incentives to
reduce the prices of drugs and all other inputs in health care services
for accelerated improvement of the health of our populations.
32. WE COMMIT OURSELVES to explore and further develop the
potential of traditional medicine and traditional health practitioners
in the prevention, care and management of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Other Related Infectious Diseases.
33. WE COMMIT OURSELVES to support the development of effective
affordable, accessible HIV vaccine relevant to Africa. We, therefore,
support �The Africa; AIDS Vaccine Programme� (AAVP), its collaborative
partners, International partners and Institutions committed to the
facilitation of HIV vaccine research and testing in Africa.
34. WE COMMIT OURSELVES to documenting and sharing
these successful and positive experiences with a view to sustaining and
scaling them up for wider coverage; mindful that there are still
challenges that confront us, particularly in the area of infant feeding.
35. WE COMMIT OURSELVES to scaling up the role of education and
information in the fight against HIV/AIDS in recognition of the
essential role education, in its widest sense plays as a cost-effective
tool for reaching the largest number of people.
36. WE COMMIT OURSELVES to the strengthening and development of
special youth programmes to ensure an AIDS-free generation.
37. WE, within the framework and spirit of our Sirte
Declaration of 9 September 1999, RENEW THE MANDATE of our brothers,
President Bouteflika of Algeria, President Mbeki of South Africa and
President Obasanjo of Nigeria to continue discussion with our debt
creditors, on our behalf, with the view to securing the total
cancellation of Africa�s external debt in favour of increased investment
in the social sector.
38. WE ENDORSE the Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Other Related Infectious Diseases; and WE PLEDGE to promote advocacy
at the national, regional and international levels; and WE ALSO PLEDGE
to ensure massive participation of Heads of State and Government at the
United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS
slated for 25 � 27 June 2001 so as to ensure that the session comes up
with concrete and urgent decisions for the fight against HIV/AIDS in
Africa including the fight against poverty and deduction of Africa�s
debt.
39. WE REQUEST the OAU Secretary General, in collaboration with
ECA, ADB, UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, UNFPA, FAO, UNESCO, UNIFEM,
IOM, UNDCP and other partners, to follow-up on the implementation of the
outcome of this Summit and submit a report to the Ordinary Sessions of
our Assembly.
40. WE MANDATE the Government of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria to submit a report on the outcome of this African Summit on
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases to the next
Ordinary OAU Summit which will be held in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001.
Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
27 April 2001