inequality and HIV
10 February 2009
The Minister in The Presidency Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang met the newly
appointed Executive Director of the United Nations AIDS organisation UNAIDS,
under Secretary-General Mr Michel Sidibé, who has succeeded Dr Peter Piot. This
was a private meeting of long standing friends.
Their meeting in Midrand this evening comes two weeks before the UN
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) conference in New York under the theme:
âEqual sharing of responsibilities between men and women, including care giving
in the context of Human Infected Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS)â, which they will both attend.
Their brief discussion centred on the sociology of the HIV as it also
impacts on womenâs lives, and on gender inequality and how this inequality puts
women at further risk. This is important for a holistic understanding of a
fight against HIV and AIDS.
They also spoke about Timbuktu in Mali, from where Sidibé originates and the
fact that the Minister had recently been in that country during President
Kgalema Motlantheâs working visit, to hand over a new building constructed by
South Africa for the conservation of a collection of African medieval
manuscripts.
As the Minister responsible for issues of women, youth, children and people
with disability in The Presidency, and as current African Union (AU) Goodwill
Ambassador and Champion for Africaâs movement to improve maternal health and
promote child survival and development in Africa, this private meeting is a
step towards closer collaboration in a drive to improve the status of
women.
Enquiries:
Mrs Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: The Presidency
10 February 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)
