The 11th Society for Women and AIDS in Africa
Plan actively participated in the 11th international conference of the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 4 – 7 February 2008.
Representatives from 20 Sub-Saharan African countries and the United States of America gathered in Ouagadougou, to review the success of the SWAA, and to see how best to develop this for greater results.
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| Dr. Bernabé, Yaméogo 2nd right, during his presentation. |
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The focus of the conference was HIV/AIDS and Human Rights. New concepts and strategies were sought to better deal with the gender and human rights issues, and their impact on HIV and women. Plan’s work was exhibited in a stand, and also at a panel discussion by Dr. Bernabé Yaméogo, WARO Health Program Advisor.
Dr. Bernabé Yaméogo commented on the following ONUSIDA figures for 2007:
33.2 million people currently living with AIDS, of which 68% are in Sub Saharan Africa. 2.1 million deaths have been recorded amongst which, 1.7 million occurred in the region. On a daily basis, 6,800 people become infected with the virus and 5 700 die, mainly because they have no access to adequate HIV prevention and health care services.
This situation has brought with it an increase in the number of orphans and vulnerable children, compromising the very basic principles of the child right convention, namely, the rights to life, survival and development, non discrimination, the best interest of the child as primary consideration, and participation.
In 2007, 330.000 children under the age of 15 died as a result of mother to child transmission. This is arguably due to mothers not being able to access testing and anti retroviral treatments; however malnutrition, discrimination and stigmatization of the disease were also factors.
During Dr. Bernabé Yaméogo’s presentation he placed focus upon the promotion of the rights of the child, improved participation of youth in programs, increasing orphans and vulnerable children’s access to basic services, (birth registration, health, education, nutrition, social security) and advocacy at many levels (parliaments, city halls, civil society, government, traditional chiefs among others). This led onto Plan’s Circle of Hope for children living with AIDS which related to many of the same issues.
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