STATEMENT BY H. E. THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA, MADAM ZINEB YAHYA JAMMEH ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN FIRST LADIES AGAINST AIDS
THE GAMBIA CHAPTER (OAFLAA-GAM)
KAIRABA BEACH HOTEL – TUESDAY, 20TH APRIL 2004

Chairperson

Your Excellency The Vice President & Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, Madam Isatou Njie Saidy

Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly

Honourable Secretaries of State

Honourable Members of the National Assembly

Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps

Resident Coordinator of the UN System in The Gambia

Mr. John Kakonge

Venerable Religious Leaders

Senior Government Officials

Women Councillors and Yai Compins

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to address this august gathering on this auspicious occasion of the Official Launching of The Gambia Chapter of the Organization of African First Ladies Against Aids (OAFLAA), which from now on shall be fondly referred to as OAFLAA-GAM. Before going any further I would like to express, on behalf of His Excellency The President of the Republic and Chairman of the National Aids Council and on my own behalf, sincere appreciation and gratitude to you all for finding time from your busy schedules to grace this important occasion with your presence.

Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

The World today is faced with a real emergency, an emergency that is brought about by HIV/AIDS – a disease without cure as at yet. The epidemic has, without doubt, become the single worst calamity of our times. Worrisome data from UNAIDS underscores the colossal magnitude of the crisis the world-over, but more so in our Continent- Africa. Out of the 40 million people that are infected with the virus globally, over 28 million are Africans and in some sister countries in the continent over 30% of the adult population are already infected.

According to UNAIDS, the epidemic is rapidly weakening economic stability in the already fragile markets of Sub-Saharan Africa. The rate of economic growth in the region has fallen by as much as 4% and labour productivity has been seriously affected in some hardest hit countries. Alarmingly, in the severely affected countries, over 25% of the work force may be lost to Aids soon.

This depressing but factual observation led Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS to sum Africa’s predicament thus, and I quote: “the devasting impact of HIV/AIDS is rolling back decades of development progress in Africa; Every Element of African society – from teachers to soldiers to farmers – is under attack by AIDS” end of quote. This powerful statement has not only given each and every African Food for thought but moved African First Ladies into action, bringing them together under one umbrella to contribute to the National, Sub-Regional, Regional and Global response to HIV/AIDS. On 19th July 2002 the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLAA) was created in Geneva, Switzerland under the guidance of UNAIDS and the International Aids Trust – an International NGO headed by former U.S. President, Bill Clinton. Many First Ladies in Africa endorsed the newest high profile African initiative to respond to the epidemic. In September of the same year, OAFLAA held its First General Assembly Meeting (AGM) on the wings of the World Summit for Sustainable Development (W.SS.D.) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since then, it has held its second AGM in Maputo, Mozambique during the African Union Summit last year and is poise to hold its Third in July, this year, during the A.U. Summit in Addis Ababa.

The Main aims of the Organisation is to advocate for increased awareness, mobilize resources and develop leadership, policies, strategies and actions to fight against HIV/AIDS at the National, Regional and Global level.

The Organization’s objectives are:-

1. To strengthen the capacity of First Ladies to Mobilize effective response to HIV/AIDS for vulnerable populations;
   
   
2. To reduce stigma and discrimination of People Living With or Affected by HIV/AIDS as well as increase their participation in fighting the pandemic;
   
   
3. To advocate for effective treatment, care and support strategies for people infected and or affected; and
   
   
4. To monitor and evaluate the implementation of activities through the Organization of African First ladies Against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The Organization is headed by The First Lady of Gabon, Madam Edith Lucie Bongo. She is supported by Four (4) Vice Presidents namely, the First Lady of Ghana, Madam Theresa Kufour for the West Africa Sub-Region, The First Lady of Rwanda, Madam Jeannette Kagame for East, The First Lady of Mauritania for North and The First Lady of Malawi for Southern Africa respectively.

OAFLAA – The Gambia Chapter is thus being created to further the ideals of the Parent Body. Its aims and objectives are in tandem with those of the Parent body. Though the Chapter is officially being launched today, a series of activities in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country have already been undertaken under my humble leadership.

This new national initiative is geared towards completing the already focused national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Government of The Gambia has been working tirelessly to scale – down the pandemic through the HIV/AIDS Rapid Response Project (HARRP) a World Bank – Gambia Government Multi-Sectoral response Project which has seen the setting up of a National Aids Council that is chaired by His Excellency The President, a National Aids Secretariat that operates under the Office of the President, and the establishment of Divisional and Multiple Aids Councils to effectively coordinate responses. Through these structures, Government in partnership with UN Agencies, NGOs and other Civil Society Organizations work in tandem to educate and create awareness on HIV/AIDS. Religious, Community and Political Leaders, Women and Youth groups and Extension Workers have all been sensitized on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

The greater involvement of People Living With HIV/AIDS is an important component of the national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. To concretize this, Government in collaboration with partners facilitated the creation of two support groups of PLWHA, the ‘Santa Yalla’ Support Society (SYSS) in the Greater Banjul Area and the ‘Nganiya Kiling’ Society (NKS) in the Western Division respectively.

Recently, on 2nd December 2003, I inaugurated a Resource Centre for one of the groups, The ‘Nganiya Kiling Society at a colour ceremony during the commemoration of World Aids Day. I also accepted to be Patroness and the Adopted Mother of the support group. In addition to that, I received both groups in my home two months ago during which occasion I heard personal testimonies from members and learnt of their constraints and concerns. I also took up the responsibility of being a major political sponsor of the Accelerated Results Implemented Programme (A.R.I.) and implemented a number of activities as listed in the Action Plan of Team II whose challenge is to increase and sustain the active involvement and visibility of Political, Religious and Community Leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country. I am pleased by the signs of fruitful gains and real achievement of the 90-Day Programme which has seen positive response from all sectors of society. I have a strong conviction that such show of visible political commitment and involvement will tear the walls of silence, demystify HIV/AIDS and eliminate the inhibitive elements of denial, stigma and discrimination.

As we launch The Gambia Chapter of the Organization of African First Ladies Against AIDS, we must make the best use of the improved global and national policy and operational environment to make a difference. We must use our leadership status to enlist the involvement and support, of men, women, the youth and children in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As role models for most of our women and children, we can and must galvanize them into a positive force against HIV/AIDS.

The Gambia’s low-rate of infection – 1.2% of our population is a window of opportunity that we must and I stress must strive to protect, as there is no room for complacency. It is in this regard, that the launching of this chapter has come at an opportune moment and the subsequent programmes to be implemented by it will surely strive to contribute to the scaling up of our National response to HIV/AIDS. I look forward to receiving the staunch support and collaboration of all stake-holders in the fight against Aids inorder to realize the noble objectives of the Chapter. I am confident that together we shall win the fight - Inshallah.

On this note, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to seize this opportunity to extend sincere appreciation and gratitude to all partners - the United Nations System, The World Bank, The Global Fund, The U.S. Government, the International Aids Trust, NGOs, The Private Sector, and The Government of The Gambia, most especially, His Excellency The President and Chairman of the National Aids Council for the unalloyed support and steadfast commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Allow me also to register my profound gratitude to the ‘Santa Yalla’ and ‘Nganiya Killing’ Societies, the entire membership of the A.R.I. Team II, The National Aids Secretariat and all National Chapters of OAFLAA for facilitating the launching of The Gambia Chapter of the Organization.

Finally, Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I now have the singular honour and pleasure to declare The Gambia Chapter of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLAA-GAM) officially launched.

I thank you for your kind attention.