Kigali hosts African first ladies' conference on HIV/AIDS

A two-day HIV/AIDS conference, convened by the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS, began on Friday in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. "The first ladies will be discussing an issue that threatens to destroy the social, economic and development gains that the continent is striving to achieve," Jeannete Kagame, the Rwandan first lady, said. During the organisation's first conference, the first ladies are expected to review and agree upon a five-year strategic plan, which will provide a framework for implementation in their respective countries and across the continent. The first ladies of Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo and Senegal are attending. Those of Ghana, Mali, Mauritania and Uganda sent representatives. The organisation was set up in Geneva in July 2002 to reinforce the capacities of first ladies to respond to the challenges presented by HIV/AIDS. It aims at advocating increased awareness and to mobilise resources for the development of leadership, polices, strategies and actions to fight HIV/AIDS at the national, regional and international levels.