25.10.2002 – 20:07

Workshop Highlights Successful Prevention in Africa of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS

Under the aegis of The Business Humanitarian Forum,
representatives from businesses, United Nations system agencies, and
foundations gathered this afternoon for a workshop entitled
"Combating the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Africa: Mother to Child
Transmission Prevention". The participants discussed antiretroviral
(ARV) treatment programs that are currently being implemented in
Africa and explored possibilities for further access and use of ARV
in integrated mother to child prevention initiatives in the region.

Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, former President of the International
Committee of the Red Cross, who opened the meeting, cited the
overwhelming importance of responding to the AIDS epidemic in Africa
and welcomed the initiative of the BHF in convening the meeting. He
announced an important financial contribution of the Accentus
Foundation, Zurich, to the Sant'Egidio Mother to Child Transmission
program.

The two featured speakers, Mr. Anil Soni from the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria and Dr. Leonardo Emberti
Gialloreti from the Sant 'Egidio Community addressed the specific
efforts that are being made on regional and local levels. Mr. Soni
spoke about the general approach that the Global Fund is taking for
developing antiretroviral treatment strategies in resource-poor
settings. Dr. Emberti, director of the first integrated ARV treatment
program in Africa, called DREAM - Drug Resource Enhancement Against
AIDS in Mozambique being carried out in two reproductive health
centers in Mozambique, presented information regarding the program's
experiences and planned growth. The program is one follow-up to the
success of the Sant'Egidio Community in mediating an end to the civil
conflict in Mozambique.

Participants in the workshop provided ideas and suggestions to
launch similar integrated ARV projects in the region which could be
carried out as public-private partnerships between businesses,
international institutions and local governments. The Business
Humanitarian Forum will continue to advance possibilities for
concrete partnerships in the area of HIV/AIDS Mother to Child
Transmission Prevention in Africa. As Amb. John Maresca, President of
the BHF stated, "We believe businesses which invest in Africa have a
direct interest in meeting the challenges of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The experience of the Sant'Egidio Community in Mozambique -the DREAM
project-- holds great promise for solving the Mother to Child
Transmission problem throughout the continent."

Contact:

Emily Alvarez
Project Manager
The Business Humanitarian Forum
Tel. +41/22/906'1658
mailto:bhf@gichd.ch