initiatives
10 April 2006
Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, to deliver keynote address
at 12h00
Date: Tuesday, 11 April 2006
Venue: Rosebank Hotel, Johannesburg
Time: 12h00 to 13h00
HIV infection rates continue to increase in many African countries despite
national and international efforts to stem the pandemic. Concerned that HIV
prevention is falling off the international agenda, the African Union (AU) is
launching the Year for Accelerating Access to HIV Prevention in Africa to
refocus attention on issues relating to HIV prevention.
In support of the launch the AU has organised a panel discussion in
Johannesburg to debate issues relating to HIV prevention within southern
Africa.
Topics to be addressed include:
* Are African leaders doing enough for HIV prevention?
* Are prevention interventions succeeding and what more can be done?
* How best can we meet the needs of young people to prevent HIV?
* Do prevention interventions meet the needs of people living with HIV and
AIDS?
The year for accelerating HIV prevention aims to renew international and
national commitment to increase access to HIV prevention interventions. It
coincides with important regional and global reviews of the response to AIDS.
In May, African leaders will assemble in Abuja to review progress made in
meeting the Abuja Declaration adopted in 2001. In June to July the world will
review progress made in meeting the commitments of the United Nations General
Assembly special session on HIV and AIDS held in 2001.
In preparation for these reviews countries across the region have developed
and submitted national reports providing feedback on their progress. As part of
the universal access initiative countries and the regions have been engaging in
consultations to draw up road maps outlining how they will progress towards
meeting the goal of universal access for all by 2010.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to attend the launch:
* Academy for Educational Development (AED)
* Action Aid International
* African Council of AIDS Service Organisations (AFRICASO)
* AIDS Law Project (ALP)
* Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
* Belgium Technical Cooperation (BTC)
* Canada International Development Agency (CIDA)
* Care International
* Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)
* Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)
* Department for International Development (DFID)
* Development Cooperation of Ireland (DCI)
* Engender Health
* Family Health International (FHI)
* Ford Foundation
* Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation
* Institute of Security Studies (ISS)
* International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
* Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)
* Oxfam GB
* Pan African Treatment Activist Movement (PATAM)
* Plus-News
* Population Services International (PSL)
* Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern Africa (RAISA)
* Southern African Humanitarian Management Network (SAHIMS)
* Save the Children
* Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN)
Issued by: Department of Health
10 April 2006
