Meles Says Africa must win the fight Against HIV/AIDS through Effective Social Mobilization

Addis Ababa, December 7 (WIC)- Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said, Africa must win the war with HIV/AIDS, and this primarily depends on effective social mobilization.

He made the remark today in a statement at the African Development Forum-2000, which is expected to conclude today after five days of deliberations on the emergency created by and the response needed to combat the AIDS pandemic.

"We have to win, and winning will be impossible to be realized unless, along with governments, all sections of society participate actively, including in leadership role, in the fight against the fatal disease." Meles said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the battle against the disease must be fought by all, and wouldn't be left to governments above. He warned that, over reliance on government systems was infact a recipt for failure.

"What is required is the active participation of all sectors of our population in all aspects of the fight against the pandemic.  There is no substitute for this," Meles said.

Today's session also featured several African heads of state and government, as well as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Recalling the sorrow that HIV/AIDS has brought in Africa, Annan said it was waiting the power of the African people to reverse the situation and win the battle against the scourge.

"We face a terrible epidermic, but we are far from powerless against it. We can halt he spread of the disease. We can even reverse it.", he said.

"In the face of such multiple burdens, our response must be comprehensive- a war fought on many fronts. We need a complete social mobilization against AID", the Secretary General added.

Re-emphasizing Annan's point for mobilization, Ugandan President Yuweri Musevini, said that such a task calls for effective communication channels involving community and religious leaders, local officials and school systems.

"Our approach, right from the beginning, has been multi-sectoral, and players in both government and civil society, have worked as a team to roll back the enemy", president Musevini said.

After effective programmes they greatly reduced the number of new infections, Uganda is often described as "Success story" in the fight against the disease.