The African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other Related Infectious Diseases (ORID) got off in Abuja, the Nigerian capital Monday after a slow start caused by hitches in delegates' accreditation and late arrival of dignitaries.

Nigerian Vice President, Abubakar Atiku declared the summit open at about 11:30 am Nigerian time (GMT +1), with a call to African leaders to see the summit as "the beginning of our collective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic."

The summit is unique, he noted, "as it is the first time that African leaders are coming together with other interested parties to discuss how to arrest the latest epidemic that is ravaging the people of our dear continent".

The ceremony, which attracted a quiet audience of about 2,000 people, included ministers of health, education, labour and finance from various African nations, other stakeholders including representatives of civil society, people living with HIV/AIDS, youth groups, pharma- ceutical companies and officials of various United Nations agencies and other multilateral institutions.

Earlier, Nigeria's health minister, Prof. Alphonsus Nwosu, in his welcome address called for a collective effort to prepare a framework document and summit strategy for confronting HIV/AIDS, TB and other related diseases in Africa.

According to him, Africa must identify and address the determinants and driving forces of the epidemic in the continent. Top among these forces are excruciating poverty and heavy debt peonage situation.

"This matter must be seriously addressed by the summit if Africa is to free itself from the clutches of disease especially those due to HIV infection and break the vicious cycle of disease and underdevel- opment", he said.

A HIV+ student nurse, Miss Yinka Jegede, made a statement on behalf of people living with HIV or AIDS in Africa. Jegede, secretary- gen- eral of the Nigerian AIDS Alliance, a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS canvassed more intensive participation of PWHAs in the fight against AIDS.

"PLWHAs stand at the centre of any community efforts to overcome the pandemic. Their rights must be respected in full and their leadership potential recognised in all facets of public life. We, PLWHA must be involved in national policymaking, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and our leadership potential should be recognized", she told the audience at the International Conference Centre, the confer- ence venue.

According to her, the lack of visibility of persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially those in social or political positions, is driv- ing the epidemic underground, creating an environment of denial and fear. She also called attention to the rampant gross violation of the rights of PLWHAs, citing the well-publicised case of Mrs. Georgina Ahamefule in Nigeria, who was tested without her knowledge and sacked because of her HIV status.

The Secretary-General of Organization of Africa Unity, Dr. Salim Ah- med Salim in his address expressed the OAU's appreciation to Presi- dent Olusegun Obasanjo and the people of Nigeria, not forgetting to mention that the city of Abuja is increasingly becoming an important venue for the deliberation of critical issues concerning the destiny of African people.

Salim was quick to point out that though the Abuja was only the lat- est in a long string of AIDS-related meetings and conferences, it was a summit with a difference.

"Our leaders will be convening in Abuja in the next two days, this time not to make yet another resolution or declaration, and not even to simply underscore the gravity of the spectre in our midst. All those have already been done sufficiently. The Abuja Summit must be a Summit with a difference. It is intended to forge a common front for action. It should be an action-oriented summit aiming at pooling to- gether, in a strategic manner, the continental energies and those of our partners in confronting this deadly pandemic", he said.

The first two days of the four-day summit are devoted to plenary ses- sions by ministers and experts from various African countries. Over 20 African heads of states and governments are expected at the second leg of the summit - the heads of states' summit - which kicks off on Thursday. Among expected dignitaries are UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former US President Bill Clinton.