Rwanda to host First Ladies’ summit on AIDS

Rwanda will host a summit of first ladies from sub-Saharan countries between 10-12 May this year, Rwanda News Agency (RNA) reported on Monday. It quoted a consultant in Rwanda’s first ladies’ office as saying that the themes to be discussed at the summit will include prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMCT) and children in situations of armed conflict. “This summit will provide the opportunity for the African first ladies, as leaders and mothers of Africa, to bring their unique leadership qualities to the crucial fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic,” a press release from Rwanda’s first ladies’ office read. It pointed out that the burden of HIV/AIDS is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa. “The summit of first ladies in Rwanda is an occasion for sub-Saharan Africa, and Rwanda in particular, to host the first ladies and their experts in the area of children and HIV/AIDS prevention, enabling them to discuss on these very grave issues afflicting our continent,” the release said. The summit will also discuss and explore the burden of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on children, women and the family, and propose practical approaches for the continent, to be implemented “this decade”. They will discuss the crisis of the violation of women’s and children’s rights in situations of armed conflict on the continent and generate a commitment to concrete action for the protection of women and children in situations of armed conflict. They will also discuss strategies that the first ladies will undertake at country level to implement proposed actions and commitments.