African Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Related Infectious Diseases

Summary of the presentation

by Ms. Lalla Ben Barka
Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa
Abuja, 24 April 2001

Employing the Consensus and action plan of Africa Development Forum (ADF 2000), Lalla Barka painted a picture of on how leadership can overcome HIV/AIDS in Africa. In the presentation, she related ADF as an initiative of Economic Communission for Africa (ECA), which aims to drive an African agenda on development. Also to reflect the Consensus between partners and lead to specific programmes to be implemented.

The ADF 2000 provided a platform for the commitment of leaders at all levels in an expected effort to fight against AIDS by focusing on positive experiences at regional, national and international levels, elaborating and implentation of plans of action and mobilizing resources commitments. Participation was drawn from a wide audience.

Utilizing pre-forum meetings and plenary sessions, stakeholders’ discussion forum, meetings of Heads of States etc, ECA aims to combat HIV/AIDS on all fronts. At the ADF 2000, the outcome was the adoption of the African Consensus and Plan of action, which will involve individual, regional leadership and international partnership.

The efficacy of the Consensus and Plan of action will depend on the implementation at regional, national and international. Governments should create national workshops, report on national initiatives, follow-up mechanisms, reinforcements of international partnership between Civil Society, Youth and PLWAs at the regional and international level, promotion of the commendations of the ADF 2000, as well as the International Partnership Against AIDS (IPAA).

She highlighted the function regional, national and international communities can play in the fight against AIDS. Workshops were organized at these stages to present recommendations and identify plans. An e-discussion forum was initiated between the different stakeholders to identify the key issues to be raised at the African Summit: it should adopt an effectual political framework in order to sustain actions at different stages of implementation, acquire direct commitment from Heads of States and create a steer up committee to ascertain the implementation of these recommendations.

In conclusion, she indicated that urgent attention must be given to political and social mobilization, prevention of HIV/AIDS, access to care and treatment, mobilization of resources and international partnership.

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