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Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, June 30, 2008

Dr. Nelson Githinji who is representing the First Lady of Kenya, Mrs. Lucy Kibaki follows proceedings during the Organization of Africa First Ladies meeting (OAFLA) at Sharm EL-Sheikhh in Egypt.

The Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) 6th Ordinary General Assembly opened today in Sharm El-Sheikh , Egypt with a call for individual responsibility and leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki was represented at the meeting by Dr. Nelson Githinji, an active member of the Kenyan Chapter of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS.

In his remarks, Dr. Githinji delivered a message of goodwill and solidarity from the First Lady Mrs. Lucy Kibaki to the African First Ladies attending the meeting.

In the message, the First Lady commended the other First Ladies for leading the war against HIV/AIDS in their respective countries, adding that the activities of OAFLA have contributed significantly to reduction of new infection in the continent.

The First Lady noted the theme of General Assembly ‘Women at the Centre of the fight against HIV/AIDS’ was particularly important considering the fact that the pandemic has affected women more.

The First Lady further pointed out that the African First Ladies should continue to wage the war against HIV/AIDS and other social ills with the conviction that the war can and shall be won.

The First Lady also added that the Kenya Chapter of OAFLA is and will continue to undertake a wide range of programs geared towards curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kenya .

The outgoing President of OAFLA, Zambian First Lady Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa expressed the African First Ladies determination to use their positions to ensure that their respective countries and the continent achieve the historic calls to action against AIDS.

“We need to lay great emphasis on individual responsibility and leadership,” the Zambian First Lady said.

The remarks were made today in a speech read on her behalf by her special assistant, Mrs Florence Chawelwa, during the opening of the meeting at the Maritim Sharm El-Sheikh Congress Centre in Egypt.

Mrs. Mwanawasa noted that following the First Ladies resolve to focus their intervention on the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) there has been tremendous improvement in the numbers of pregnant women going for VCT as well as those accessing antiretroviral drugs.

She, however, stressed the need for intensifying the fight against stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS in order to effectively counter the war against the scourge.

Mrs. Mwanawasa disclosed that OAFLA Secretariat developed a robust partnership with UNFPA to promote the new female condom, adding that UNFPA is willing to work with OAFLA at national and regional levels for areas that are ready to launch the female condom.

The Zambian First Lady added that OAFLA has also been championing the use of microbicides as a preventive tool for women.

Other speakers include the host Egyptian First Lady Susan Mubarak and the UNAIDS Director for the Middle East and North Africa Mr. Oussama Tawil among others.