Full Speech by First Lady of Rwanda Mrs Jeannette Kagame at the 18th Ordinary General Assembly and 15th Anniversary of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), Addis Ababa, 31 January 2017. The Session was Themed: “15 Years of Engagement to Harness Africa’s Demographic Dividend”. READ BELOW:
Our gracious host, Excellency First Lady of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia,
President of OAFLA, Excellency First Lady of the Republic of Malawi,
Excellencies dearest sisters,
Executive Director of UNAIDS,
Honourable ladies and gentlemen,
All protocols observed,
Good Morning.
It is with great pleasure that I stand before you, dear sisters and distinguished guests, on this special day that marks the 15th anniversary of OAFLA, as celebrated through its 18th General Assembly.
Dear sisters,
15 years ago, we organized around the calling to bring an end to the AIDS epidemic. An epidemic that took the lives of millions of people, over a course of just two decades.
The urgency of that situation could not be ignored; we could no longer delay in fighting this disease that was robbing our people, of all ages, of their opportunities to fulfill their full potential. So each one of us proposed pertinent solutions, to be efficiently implemented in our respective nations, and through our respective foundations.
As we take a moment to evaluate our 15-year journey, I ask you to not only celebrate the achievements realized thanks to our growing commitment, and that of our valued partners, but to also take a moment to reflect upon the work we are yet to do.
Honourable guests,
Over the years, global progress toward ending AIDS has been one of great significance. And yet, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most severely affected by HIV and AIDS.
A child dies every minute of an AIDS-related illness, and we lose at least one million people to this pandemic, every year. This is the reason:
- why we cannot give up,
- why we must never give up,
- why we will never give up!
Countless trials over the years have shown the positive impact in our countries, of promoting, and advocating for maternal and child health in relation to PMTCT.
For instance, in 2001, Rwanda launched a national programme aimed at reducing, and eventually eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
Sixteen years later, 97% of health facilities in Rwanda provide services for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT). Through these services, HIV transmissions from mother to child have since dropped from more than nearly 10% to 1,8 %, in 10 years2.
Distinguished guests,
Our years spent combatting the spread of HIV/AIDS has often left us wondering why we were significantly reducing transmissions rates on one front, only to see this virus take on a new face by attacking a new demographic group.
This is the current case, as we see the HIV/AIDS epidemic affecting in growing numbers, the lives of our young people. Recent research reveals that on our continent, AIDS is now the leading cause of death among adolescents aged 10 – 19 years old, with adolescent girls being the most affected demographic.
Realizing that this virus is affecting the active populations, who are meant to be the future driving forces of our societies, and our economies, is as revolting as it is frightening.
Indeed, we now know that the impact of HIV/AIDS is multi-layered and has gone beyond a public health issue, to becoming a full-blown development one.
In the public spheres, the fight against this virus requires more investments for the prevention and treatment of AIDS-related diseases, at the expense of other health, and development priorities.
Honourable ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to recall our AU vision for 2063, of ‘an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.’
What lies between us and this noble vision, is the invisible and lethal threat of the AIDS pandemic.
This is:
- why we cannot afford to give up,
- why we must not give up,
- why we will never give up!
To borrow the words of UNAids Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, ‘Complacency is the new conspiracy—and it must be broken!’, we need to take a harsh look at these statistics, that show that our youth, and in higher proportions, our younger women, are at greater risk of contracting the virus. Then, we must take more decisive action.
As a community, we must protect these precious lives, for their health will determine the wellbeing of the next generations, and by extension their ability to thrive, and become the innovators and trendsetters needed for the development of our continent.
As a community, we must look into the depths of our African cultures for socially-responsible initiatives, well-thought-out programmes and campaigns; the kinds that encourage prevention and treatment, while fighting stigma within our communities.
As a community, we must concentrate our efforts towards achieving the ambitious goal of 90-90-904 by 2020.
As a community, while further investing in the search for more effective drugs, until that day, that a cure is found, we must continue supporting research that study behaviors, to help prevent new infections, if we are going to eradicate AIDS by 2030.
Honourable ladies and gentlemen,
We must continue to build on the work done so far, by maintaining the different partnerships with government institutions, development partners, and most importantly the active support of people living with HIV and AIDS in our communities, if we are to stay the course in this fight against HIV and AIDS.
It is indeed everyone’s responsibility to hold the torch of hope.
In order to harness the demographic dividend, we owe at least that much to future generations, the opportunity to ‘start free, stay free, AIDS free’ by 2020.
I thank you for your kind attention and again, wish us all a happy 15th anniversary!
Present at the session were First Ladies from: Comoros, Ethiopia, Malawi, Chad, Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Namibia, Zambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and the former First Lady of Namibia (and former OAFLA President from 2011-2013).
Brief remarks by other present First Ladies and guests:
First Lady of Malawi, and current President of OAFLA, Dr. Gertrude Mutharika: Mrs Mutharika welcomed all First Ladies present and acknowledged the presence of Former FL of Namibia and Former President of OAFLA (2011-2013). She expressed her joy of being able to celebrate the 15th anniversary of OAFLA in the ‘beautiful city of Addis Ababa’. Speaking on the organisation’s commitment, she stated that this 15 year long journey was “A story of conquest, as we stand firm in the battle against HIV/AIDS”, and congratulated other FL for their unwavering commitment to fight this disease. Adding, that although African nations may differ, they (First Ladies) are united by their desire to “ end poverty, and entrench processes for sustainable progress.” Focusing on ways to harness demographic dividend, she stated that health priority that the fight against HIV/AIDS constitutes deserved to receive more attention. Mrs Mutharika also reminded the assembly that their meeting in New York, on the margins of the UN General Assembly will serve as resource mobilization for the All-in Adolescent campaign.
First Lady of Ethiopia: First Lady Mrs Roman Tesfaye welcomed all guests to Addis and acknowledged this year’s theme as one of the strongest confirmation of their commitment to advocate for women, children and adolescents health throughout the continent. Mrs Tesfaye called for continued investment for the wellness of women, adolescents, and children and insisted on the importance of helping realise this vision of a “healthy, empowered, and informed youth’. She also called on First Ladies to leverage their roles to influence socio-economic matters for the best, in their respective nations. She also thanked all partners for their ‘continued and unfailing support’ of OAFLA.
First Lady of Niger, Mrs. Aissata Mahamadou Issoufou: In her address celebrating the achievements of the organisation through the past 15 years, First Lady of Niger, Mrs. Aissata Mahamadou Issoufou, thanked the ‘big sisters’ in OAFLA, namely Mrs Jeannette Kagame, First Lady Antoinette Sassou-Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville, and First Lady of Equatorial Guinea, for their continuous support which has been greatly beneficial to the organisation.
UNAids Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibé expressed his gratitude to the First Ladies for being their ally in this fight against the HIV/AIDS virus.
