New drive against Aids and malaria in west Africa
10/07/2008
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has unveiled a new regional campaign focusing on HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.
Between them, the three pandemics claim millions of lives each year around the world, with many African countries bearing the brunt of infections due to their restricted national healthcare services.
Thirty experts, parliamentarians and officials from Ecowas attended the launch of the new regional drive at a meeting in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso's second largest city.
Event coordinator the West African Health Organisation outlined how the initiative would focus on improving access to drugs and awareness campaigns in vulnerable communities.
"The main aim is to mobilise and to alert the target populations in order to get them to organise themselves to fight these pandemics, which are threatening to devastate our region," China View quoted one of the delegates as saying.
Participants were also invited to share their experiences of combating the health crises on a national level, with the intention being to reach a consensus on advisable common strategies.
Focusing in particular on the threat posed by HIV/Aids - which presently infects an estimated 32.7 million people around the globe - Yaya Sangare, chairman of the Ecowas parliamentary commission, said more must be done to protect sufferers.
"African countries have put the fight against the Aids scourge among their top priorities," asserted Mr Sangare. "We need a stronger involvement of actors and targets for comprehensive care for people."
©