OPENING STATEMENT BY H. E. THE VICE PRESIDENT, ALHAJI ALIU MAHAMA AT THE INTERACTIVE MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON HIV/AIDS AND GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA IN ACCRA ON 18TH NOVEMBER, 2004 AT THE LA PALM ROYAL HOTEL

Your Excellencies,
Commissioners,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Let me first say how delighted I am by this opportunity to address you today, on an issue that has touched the lives of each and every one of us, and which poses the biggest challenge to Africa today: HIV/AIDS.

Unlike the many other development problems facing Africa, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is unique. It kills people in the prime of their live, restructuring our populations, and destroying skills that are much needed for the development of our continent. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is both an immediate crisis and a long-term developmental challenge, which demands innovative policy responses. Specific challenges to be addressed include sate capacity (sectors such as education, health, the armed forces, etc.) the gender impacts of the epidemic, the challenge of empowering young people, and maintaining the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable.

In this sense, HIV/AIDS is a survival issue for Africa.

Like all events on such a scale, its impact ranges far beyond the harrowing catalogue of lives lost, into the prosperity or poverty of nations, the character of government and the fabric of social and community life. The macroeconomic costs of AIDS impose an extra burden on already poor and vulnerable economies. Although the headline figure of GDP impact is low- between o.4-1.5% reduction in annual growth – this conceals more profound effects on society and government capacity. As the sickness strikes at the labour force it takes a toll on productivity, profitability, investment and savings, and hollows out both state capacity and social networks. Essential services may grind to a halt, while livelihoods and social protection collapse, and poverty and hunger escalate. For these reasons, AIDS poses the gravest threat to Africa’s development. If the epidemic rages unchecked, the continent faces a spiral of decline.

This disaster can be prevented. As African we must take greater responsibility for creating a capable environment for an effective and sustainable response. A capable African state in the era of AIDS is one that not only maintains good governance and promotes development, but also delivers essential life-prolonging treatment to its citizens who are living with HIV and AIDS. This is an ambitious vision, but the advent of cheap and simple anti-retroviral therapy brings it within reach.

The capable state in Africa must be resolutely focused on overcoming AIDS. In the years to come it will be spending a large proportion of its national budget on essential anti-retroviral treatment, supporting an unprecedented health infrastructure that serves every citizen. The government will have gorged radically new partnerships with international donors to enable a guaranteed lifetime provision of these essential medicines, and will be operating in close partnership with civil society, grassroots organizations and the private sector in this immense enterprise. A capable state in the era of AIDS will have new macro-economic strategies for development despite AIDS, and it will have new approaches to managing its key institutions, notably. the health sector but also education, social welfare, agriculture and security.

Africa’s governments face this challenge sorely ill-prepared. While much has been learned about the impact of HIV/AIDS on growth, development and capacity, there are still many important gaps in knowledge, and still bigger gaps in translating that knowledge into a coherent framework for action. More needs to be done, but at the same time the human resources for doing more are dwindling as AIDS takes its toll.

I am sure this meeting will make crystal clear the nature of the choice that confronts African governments today, and begin the formidable task of preparing those governments to design and implement the policies and programmes that can make them capable of overcoming HIV/AIDS, and of maintaining development and good governance in the era of AIDS.

This is the more reason why I am happy to note that the ILO and the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance are committed to making a strong statement in addressing HIV/AIDS in the World of Work.

At the workplace, the problem should be faces squarely and candidly, and with compassion by both employers and employees. Continuous education of the workforce on the disease is imperative. Clear government policies are necessary to drive the workplace programmes. It is gratifying to note that in Ghana, some start has been made in this direction. HIV/AIDS in the world of work is being given serious attention by many organizations, particularly in the formal sector. The employers’ Association as well as the TUC have adopted relevant educational programmes for the workforce; and policies protecting the jobs and welfare of staff infected by the disease are widely observed.

In the Mining industry, for example, in which the prevalence rate tends to be relatively higher because of the peculiar conditions pertaining to the sector, special attention is being given by most companies, to HIV/AIDS education, and support of employees affected by the disease.

There is, however, a lot of room for improvement in terms of coverage and quality of programmes, as well as in the implementation of policies on HIV/AIDS in the World of work. The informal sector poses even more difficult challenges.

The Ghana AIDS Commission and many organization have done tremendous work in the area of awareness creation and control of the spread of the epidemic. However, there is still a great deal of work to be done, for example, to change attitudes towards people affected and infected by the disease.

It is also important to encourage conscious behavior change in terms of self protection, testing for HIV/AIDS and care seeking upon positive diagnosis. Quality of care given as well as perception and treatment of the disease can be improved.

In Ghana many organizations including the Ghana Aids Commission have done tremendous work in the areas of awareness and prevention of the spread of this pandemic. But, unfortunately the attitudes of many of us towards those affected and infected with the illness have not changed much.

We mush continue to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS so that every man, women and child in Africa is very clear about how one contracts HIV/AIDS and how one contract HIV/AIDS and how one can protect one’s self from getting the disease.

We must increase access to treatment, car and support. This includes access to affordable anti-retroviral treatment, psychosocial support, good nutrition and attention to economic issues.

All of us have a role to play in this respect. Our governments have a role to play in the provision of key services and information, in providing political leadership, in ensuring that there are sufficient resources to curb the pandemic. Civil society organizations can create awareness, provide care and support and conduct advocacy on key issues. The faith based institutions, which wield a lot of power in our countries, can encourage their congregations to show compassion to sufferers of the hideous disease and the media must continue to increase awareness. It is only by our joint endeavors that we can combat the pandemic effectively in Africa. We have to act in concert to achieve the desired goal.

Thank You!!!

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