AIDS-RELATED DEATHS AMONG ADOLESCENTS ARE NOT DECLINING IN SUB SAHARA AFRICA ....MRS LORDINA MAHAMA WORRIED

AIDS-related deaths are declining in all age groups, except among adolescents, that is 10 to 19 year old.  AIDS is now the leading cause of death among adolescents in Africa and the second leading cause of death among adolescents globally. New HIV infections among adolescents are also not declining quickly enough, and adolescent girls, are the most affected. This the President of the Organization of African First Ladies describes as unacceptable.

 “We will not stand by as    though helpless, and watch our children die of AID” she said.

Speaking at “a United Continental All in Adolescent HIV Campaign”in Accra, the First lady noted that Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of adolescents, need to be prioritized across Africa.  “We must work together with our boys and girls, and our young men ladies and men to end new HIV infections AIDS related deaths among the next generation” she stated.

Upon her election as President of OAFLA last June, the first committed  herself to advocate for a united Continental movement, to implement the Global “All In” Adolescent HIV Campaign.

The campaign was jointly launched by UNAIDS and UNICEF in collaboration with UNFPA and other partners.

The Global “All-in” Campaign, is based on intensifying all efforts to prevent HIV infections and AIDS deaths amongst adolescents, in an environment free of stigma and discrimination.

This has resulted in calls to listen, involve and include young people in HIV programming.

The First Lady noted that there have been major advances in almost every area of the response to HIV but progress for adolescents is severely lagging behind. In responding to these challenges, she said the “All-In” Campaign is focusing on four key action areas which are engaging, mobilizing and empowering adolescents as leaders and actors of social change, Improving data collection to better inform programming, encouraging innovative approaches to reach adolescents with essential HIV services adapted to their needs; and placing adolescents HIV firmly on the political agenda to spur concrete action and mobilize resources.

The Global commitment to UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 Fast-Track targets, calls for the end of AIDS by 2030.  In line with this target,the First lady said “ we need to stop new HIV infections among adolescents. Especially, our young women, and ensure AIDS is no longer the leading cause of death among that age group”she said.

Mrs. Mahama stated that with the support from her Sister First Ladies, they will intensify their advocacy and impress upon their Governments, the need to allocate adequate resources for the provision of comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health services for adolescents.

She will also ensure that all member countries initiate and implement key actions, towards reversing the negative HIV and AIDS trends among adolescents. She however called

partners and stakeholders on board now.

She urged the youth to take advantage of unique positions to speak out against stigma, discrimination, gender inequality and other drivers of the epidemic and to demand that governments take action now.

Giving a presentation of the situation of Adolescent and HIV in Africa, Director General of the Ghana Aids Commission, Dr Angela El Adas said every hour in Africa,26 adolescent age 10 to 19 are affected with HIV leading to an estimated 250,000 new infections in Africa. 
According to her adolescent living with HIV were born with it and also many new infections are not declining as quickly as among other age groups. She therefore called on stakeholders to understand the enormity of the problem and commit their selves to raise their voice against HIV in Adolescent. 

There were short remarks by the partners of “All in “Campaign including Adolescent Ambassadors, UNAIDS, UNICEF AND UNFPA. Professor Babatunde Osotimehim of the UNFPA called on Africa leaders to intensify the “All in   Adolescents HIV campaign. He believes the attention should not only be in schools but homes and other areas.

At the end of the Launch a communiqué was issued by the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV (OAFLA). According to the communiqué read by the First Lady of Seirra Leone,  Sia Koroma members of OAFLA commit themselves to promote the All in one Campaign as a platform for action for increasing the meaningful participation of adolescents in decision making processes and strengthening youth led social movement.

They commit themselves to invest in the health and education of women and adolescent and protect their rights.

Members of OAFLA made some calls:

OAFLA called on the African Union Commission , the African Devec Colopment Bank,UNICEF,UNFPA, the Economic Commission for Africa , other UN Agencies, the International Planned Parenthood Federation and development partners to actively support continental initiatives on strengthening Adolescent reproductive Health syatems, by providing continued technical and financial support and resources and by facilitating innovative partnerships.

Our governments and national institutions to ensure the enforcement of laws and the domestications of international and regional instruments and womlegal frameworks that protect women and young people including their sexual reproductive health and rights

The national, regional and continental entities to better coordinate efforts  that would lead to the accelerated elimination of all forms of gender based violence and harmful practices