Negasso Reaffirm Ethiopia's Commitment to Fight HIV/AIDS

Addis Ababa, December 3 (WIC)-- President Negasso Gidada said that Ethiopia will deploy as much commitment as possible in the fight against the AIDS scourge as it had done in reversing foreign Aggressors.

In an opening statement to the African Development Forum - 2000 , which started today, Negasso acknowledged criticism that African governments haven't invested enough time and resource in combating HIV/AIDS, but said that he would do all in his capacity as head of the Ethiopian government and the National AIDS council, to ensure that HIV/AIDS is met with all the vigour it warrants.

Noting that Africa has been rendered more Vulnerable to the AIDS pandemic, Negasso emphasized that a more effective method was needed to combating the pandemic. "Citizens, community leaders, civil society organization, religious organizations, trade unions, business-in fact every part of our societies-have responsibilities to become part  of a grand African coalition against HIV/AIDS.  No one should be demobilized from this collective struggle." Dr. Negasso said.

"This is a multi-faceted struggle: a struggle for human rights, the empowerment of women, for the restoration of basic health and education services, for equitable development-infact, it is a struggle for the future of African continent. " he added.

The president underscored that leaders must make sure that there is collective effort in responding to communities and persons affected by the disease, or force greater destruction as AIDS in Africa" continues to spread and continues to kill"

As regards activities focusing on the AIDS scourge in Ethiopia, Negasso noted that several important measures have been taken to fight it, including the formulation of the HIV/AIDS policy and the establishment of the National AIDS Council.

" A modest budget was allocated by the Ethiopian Government for the Council to undertake its activities.  However, cooperation from the international community is indispensable for the continuation of these activities, and we hope that help in this direction will be forthcoming." 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Secretary General of the ECA, underscored that African leaders are more than any other time in history, faced with the challenge of reversing the effects of an epidemic that is pushing Africa to the brink of the Abys.

" This is a battle for our continent's survival.  We carry inside each and every one of us the potential to increase the problem or the potential to help solve the problem.", he said.

"Leadership is our topic.  Leadership at all levels:  within the family, the community, the towns, the provinces, civil society, the churches and mosques...  Leadership which is the boldest, most persistent, most insightful, compassionate, forceful, cooperative and imaginative we have ever had." Amoako added.

The ECA head emphasized that only Africans, and no one else, are responsible for changing the situation that they now find themselves in, and that African leaders have a historical role to play in showing their people this reality.

This year's African Development Forum, which is being conducted under the theme "AIDS, the Greatest Leadership Challenge", brings together about 1,500 delegates from around the continent.