BURUNDIANS HAIL AFRICAN SYNERGY
By Martin Nkematabong

March 31, 2004 – (Cameroon Tribune - Yaoundé) First Lady, Mrs Ndayizeye, says the Bujumbura workshop is a decisive battle in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

A training workshop organised in Bujumbura, Burundi, by the African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, enters its third day today. Participants have for the past two days deliberated on major topics such as women and HIV, counselling and voluntary testing, surveillance of pregnant women and delivery techniques, caring for the infected and HIV and nutrition.

In her opening speech, the Burundian First Lady, Mrs Aude Ndayizeye, described the workshop as one of the "decisive battles in a war to put an end to the HIV pandemic and guarantee the future of Burundian generations." She called on the Burundian medical officials to generously share their experiences with their foreign colleagues.

Mrs Ndayizeye, however, regretted that the rate of HIV transmission has witnessed a steady rise since 1980, attributing it to non-challance, deviance and waywardness. "It is regrettable that Burundians condone acts of rape, unhealthy minor-adult relationships and other forms of social behaviours which render the population vulnerable to the killer disease," the First Lady lamented.

She emphasised that the Bujumbura workshop will not limit its scope to preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission but will also strive to rehabilitate the moral and spiritual values of Burundi, calling on the civil society, members of government and the general population to initiate lasting public moral crusades.

Mrs Ndayizeye reassured the people that the Burundian government will lend the necessary support required by the African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering to attain its goal, intimating that Burundi is open to both national and international organisations which aim at curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. She, however, postulated that "priority should be given to women who are more exposed to the disease and children who form the bases of tomorrow's nations."

To corroborate Mrs Ndayizeye's view, the Executive Secretary of African Synergy, Mr Jean Stephane Biatcha, revealed that over 66 pecent of people living with HIV/AIDS are women, and eight out of every 10 infected women are Africans, adding that more than 15 million AIDS orphans now live on the continent. AIDS, Biatcha remarked does not only inflict the pains of loss to communities but also adversely affect economic growth on the continent.

African Synergy, the Executive Secretary emphasised, is a forum for concerted action, solidarity, partnership and exchange of ideas geared towards achieving targeted millennium goals for Africa.

Quoting its president, Mrs Chantal Biya, Biatcha concluded that "African Synergy is not a substitute, but a partner to NGOs, the civil societies, traditional authorities, religious bodies, the international community and governments in their efforts to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa." 73 social workers are currently undergoing the mother-to-child transmission preventive training.

The opening ceremony which held at the Bujumbura Hotel Source du Nil was attended by Burundian members of government, Senators, legislators and members of diplomatic corps.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200403310458.html