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>                 INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AIDS NETWORK (IAAN)
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>                           Information Release
>
>           ABUJA DECLARATION ON HIV/AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND
>                  OTHER RELATED INFECTIOUS DISEASES
>
>April 27, 2001
>
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>
>http://www.oau-oua.org/afrsummit/HIV-AIDS%20TB%20ORID%20ABUJA%20DECLARATION.htm
>
>ABUJA DECLARATION ON HIV/AIDS,
>TUBERCULOSIS AND OTHER RELATED INFECTIOUS DISEASES
>
>We, the Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity
>(OAU) met in Abuja, Nigeria from 26-27 April 2001, at a Special Summit
>devoted specifically to address the exceptional challenges of HIV/AIDS,
>Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases, at the invitation of
>H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in
>accordance with the agreement reached at the Thirty-Sixth Ordinary Session
>of our Assembly in Lomi, Togo from 10 to 12 July 2000.
>
>2.  We gathered in Abuja to undertake a critical review and assessment of
>the situation and the consequences of these diseases in Africa, and to
>reflect further on new ways and means whereby we, the leaders of our
>Continent, can take the lead in strengthening current successful
>interventions and developing new and more appropriate policies, practical
>strategies, effective implementation mechanisms and concrete monitoring
>structures at national, regional and continental levels with a view to
>ensuring adequate and effective control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
>Other Related Infectious Diseases in our Continent.
>
>3.  We are deeply concerned about the rapid spread of HIV infection in our
>countries and the millions of deaths caused by AIDS, Tuberculosis and
>other related infectious diseases throughout the Continent, in spite of
>the serious efforts being made by our countries to control these diseases.
>Africa is exceptionally afflicted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  This
>generalised epidemic is affecting a wide cross-section of our people, thus
>decimating the adult population, the most productive group, and leaving in
>its wake millions of orphans, and disrupted family structures.
>
>4.  We recognize the role played by poverty, poor nutritional conditions
>and underdevelopment in increasing vulnerability.  We are concerned about
>the millions of African children who have died from AIDS and other
>preventable infectious diseases.  We are equally concerned about the
>particular and severe impact that these diseases have on children and
>youth who represent the future of our continent, the plight of millions of
>children orphaned by AIDS and the impact on the social system in our
>countries.
>
>5.  We are particularly concerned about the high incidence of mother to
>child transmission, especially given the challenges of infant
>breastfeeding in the context of HIV infection on the continent.
>
>6.  We recognize that special efforts are required to ensure that Africa's
>children are protected from these pandemics and their consequences and
>that the full and effective participation of young people in prevention
>and control programmes is essential to their success.
>
>7.  We recognise that biologically, women and girls are particularly
>vulnerable to HIV infection.  In addition, economic and social
>inequalities and traditionally accepted gender roles leave them in a
>subordinate position to men.
>
>8.  We appreciate the special needs and challenges of the HIV/AIDS
>pandemic for the youth that make them vulnerable to infection and adverse
>impacts of the epidemic.
>
>9.  We recognize that the practice of injectable drug abuse with sharing
>of contaminated needles in some African countries is a major concern.  The
>abuse of alcohol, marijuana and other mind-altering drugs, which is on the
>increase among the youth further enhances their vulnerability to HIV
>infection.
>
>10.  We recognize the essential place that education, in its widest sense
>has played and will continue to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS in
>Africa.  Education constitutes the most powerful, cost effective tool for
>reaching the largest number of people with information and personal
>development strategies that promote long-term behaviour change.
>
>11.  We acknowledge that forced migrations due to war, conflicts, natural
>disasters and economic factors including unilateral sanctions imposed on
>some African countries, lead to an increased vulnerability and the spread
>of the disease; we note that special attention should be given to
>migrants, mobile populations, refugees and internally displaced persons in
>national and regional policies.  We also note that special attention
>should be given to the problem trafficking in human beings and its impact
>on HIV/AIDS.
>
>12.  We are aware that stigma, silence, denial and discrimination against
>people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) increase the impact of the epidemic and
>constitute a major barrier to an effective response to it.  We recognize
>the importance of greater involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS.
>
>13.  We recognise that the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other
>Related Infectious Diseases constitute not only a major health crisis, but
>also an exceptional threat to Africa's development, social cohesion,
>political stability, food security as well as the greatest global threat
>to the survival and life expectancy of African peoples.  These diseases,
>which are themselves exacerbated by poverty and conflict situations in our
>Continent, also entail a devastating economic burden, through the loss of
>human capital, reduced productivity and the diversion of human and
>financial resources to care and treatment.
>
>14.  We recognize the need to intensify our efforts in all areas of
>research such as traditional medicines and vaccine development.
>
>15.  We are fully convinced that containing and reversing the HIV/AIDS
>epidemic, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases should constitute our
>top priority for the first quarter of the 21st Century.  We are equally
>convinced that tackling these epidemics should constitute an integral part
>of our continental Agenda for promoting poverty reduction, sustainable
>development and ensuring durable peace and political security and
>stability consistent with the Millennium African Recovery Programme.
>
>16.  We recognise and commend the efforts by our respective national
>Governments, our continental Organisation and its Regional Economic
>Communities (RECs), the national and international NGOs, the civil
>society, including youth, women, people with disability, religious
>organisations, sport organizations, Trade Unions, Employers organizations,
>Traditional Health Practitioners, Traditional Rulers, people living with
>HIV/AIDS and individuals, who care for, support and sensitise our people
>to the threat of HIV/AIDS and the associated opportunistic infections
>including Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
>
>17.  We acknowledge the support that the international Community,
>including the United Nations System, its Specialised Agencies and
>programmes, bilateral agencies, private sector and other communities and
>stakeholders have provided in raising awareness about and combating the
>scourge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases in
>Africa.
>
>18.  We further acknowledge that, to successfully implement a
>comprehensive and multisectoral approach and campaign to overcome
>HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases, there is a
>need to secure adequate financial and human resources at national and
>international levels.
>
>19.  We recognize the need to establish a sustainable source of income to
>fund HIV/AIDS programmes.
>
>20.  We recognise the importance of leadership at all levels in the fight
>against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases in
>our Continent.  We, therefore, acknowledge the special importance of the
>"African Consensus and Plan of Action: Leadership to overcome HIV/AIDS"
>adopted at the African Development Forum 2000 as the outcome of a
>wide-ranging process of consultation with all stakeholders.
>
>21.  In this regard, we recall and reaffirm our commitment to all relevant
>decisions, declarations and resolutions in the area of health and
>development and on HIV/AIDS, particularly the "Declaration on HIV/AIDS in
>Africa" (July 2000) and the "Decision on the adoption of the International
>Partnership against HIV/AIDS".
>
>WE SOLEMNLY DECLARE AS FOLLOWS:
>
>22.  We consider AIDS as a State of Emergency in the continent.  To this
>end, all tariff and economic barriers to access to funding of AIDS-related
>activities should be lifted.
>
>23.  To place the fight against HIV/AIDS at the forefront and as the
>highest priority issue in our respective national development plans.  To
>that end, WE ARE RESOLVED to consolidate the foundations for the
>prevention and control of the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other
>Related Infectious Diseases through a comprehensive multisectoral strategy
>which involves all appropriate development sectors of our governments as
>well as a broad mobilisation of our societies at all levels, including
>community level organisations, civil society, NGOs, the private sector,
>trade unions, the media, religious organisations, schools, youth
>organisations, women organisations, people living with HIV/AIDS
>organizations and individuals who care for, support and sensitise our
>population to the threat of HIV/AIDS and associated opportunistic
>infections and also to protect those not yet infected, particularly the
>women, children and youth through appropriate and effective prevention
>programmes.
>
>24.  To that effect, WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
>AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP for the activities of the National AIDS
>Commissions/Councils.  WE THEREFORE RESOLVE to lead from the front the
>battle against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious
>Diseases by personally ensuring that such bodies were properly convened in
>mobilizing our societies as a whole and providing focus for unified
>national policy-making and programme implementation, ensuring coordination
>of all sectors at all levels with a gender perspective and respect for
>human rights, particularly to ensure equal rights for people living with
>HIV/AIDS (PLWA).
>
>25.  WE ALSO COMMIT OURSELVES TO ENSURE that leadership role is exercised
>by everyone in his/her area of responsibility in the fight against
>HIV/AIDS and other related diseases. WE THEREFORE ENDORSE the "African
>Consensus and Plan of Action: Leadership to overcome HIV/AIDS"  during the
>Second African Development Forum on "AIDS: The Greatest Leadership
>Challenge" organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
>(UNECA) in collaboration with the OAU, UNAIDS and ILO (Addis Ababa, 3-7
>December 2000).
>
>26.  WE COMMIT OURSELVES to take all necessary measures to ensure that the
>needed resources are made available from all sources and that they are
>efficiently and effectively utilized.  In addition, WE PLEDGE to set a
>target of allocating at least 15% of our annual budget to the improvement
>of the health sector.  WE ALSO PLEDGE to make available the necessary
>resources for the improvement of the comprehensive multi-sectoral
>response, and that an appropriate and adequate portion of this amount is
>put at the disposal of the National Commissions/Councils for the fight
>against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases.
>
>27.  WE REQUEST the OAU Secretariat, in collaboration with ADB, ECA, and
>all other partner institutions, especially WHO and UNAIDS, to assist
>Member States in formulating a continental-wide policy for an
>international assistance strategy for the mobilisation of additional
>financial resources.
>
>28.  WE CALL UPON Donor countries to complement our resources mobilization
>efforts to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related
>Infectious Diseases. Bearing in mind that Africa cannot, from its weak
>resource base, provide the huge financial resources needed.  In this
>regard, WE URGE those countries to, among others, fulfill the yet to be
>met target of 0.7% of their GNP as official Development Assistance (ODA)
>to developing countries.
>
>29.  We support the creation of a Global AIDS Fund capitalized by the
>donor community to the tune of US $5 - 10 billion accessible to all
>affected countries to enhance operationalization of Action Plans,
>including accessing Anti-retroviral programmes in favour of the
>populations of Africa.
>
>30.  WE UNDERTAKE to mobilize all the human, material and financial
>resources required to provide CARE and SUPPORT and quality treatment to
>our populations infected with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related
>Infections, and to organize meetings to evaluate the status of
>implementation of the objective of access to care.
>
>31.  WE RESOLVE to enact and utilize appropriate legislation and
>international trade regulations to ensure the availability of drugs at
>affordable prices and technologies for treatment, care and prevention of
>HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases.  WE ALSO RESOLVE to
>take immediate action to use tax exemption and other incentives to reduce
>the prices of drugs and all other inputs in health care services for
>accelerated improvement of the health of our populations.
>
>32.  WE COMMIT OURSELVES to explore and further develop the potential of
>traditional medicine and traditional health practitioners in the
>prevention, care and management of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other
>Related Infectious Diseases.
>
>33.  WE COMMIT OURSELVES to support the development of effective
>affordable, accessible HIV vaccine relevant to Africa.  We, therefore,
>support "The Africa; AIDS Vaccine Programme"(AAVP), its collaborative
>partners, International partners and Institutions committed to the
>facilitation of HIV vaccine research and testing in Africa.
>
>34.  WE COMMIT OURSELVES to documenting and sharing these successful and
>positive experiences with a view to sustaining and scaling them up for
>wider coverage; mindful that there are still challenges that confront us,
>particularly in the area of infant feeding.
>
>35.  WE COMMIT OURSELVES to scaling up the role of education and
>information in the fight against HIV/AIDS in recognition of the essential
>role education, in its widest sense plays as a cost-effective tool for
>reaching the largest number of people.
>
>36.  WE COMMIT OURSELVES to the strengthening and development of special
>youth programmes to ensure an AIDS-free generation.
>
>37.  WE, within the framework and spirit of our Sirte Declaration of 9
>September 1999, RENEW THE MANDATE of our brothers, President Bouteflika of
>Algeria, President Mbeki of South Africa and President Obasanjo of Nigeria
>to continue discussion with our debt creditors, on our behalf, with the
>view to securing the total cancellation of Africa's external debt in
>favour of increased investment in the social sector.
>
>38.  WE ENDORSE the Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other
>Related Infectious Diseases; and WE PLEDGE to promote advocacy at the
>national, regional and international levels; and WE ALSO PLEDGE to ensure
>massive participation of Heads of State and Government at the United
>Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS slated for
>25 - 27 June 2001 so as to ensure that the session comes up with concrete
>and urgent decisions for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa including
>the fight against poverty and deduction of Africa's debt.
>
>39.  WE REQUEST the OAU Secretary General, in collaboration with ECA, ADB,
>UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, UNFPA, FAO, UNESCO, UNIFEM, IOM, UNDCP and
>other partners, to follow-up on the implementation of the outcome of this
>Summit and submit a report to the Ordinary Sessions of our Assembly.
>
>40.  WE MANDATE the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to
>submit a report on the outcome of this African Summit on HIV/AIDS,
>Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases to the next Ordinary
>OAU Summit which will be held in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001.
>
>Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
>
>27 April 2001
>
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>See also:
>
>http://www.oau-oua.org/afrsummit/docs.htm
>Summit Documents
>
>http://www.oau-oua.org/afrsummit/Framework%20for%20Action.htm
>THE ABUJA FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS,
>TUBERCULOSIS AND OTHER RELATED INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN AFRICA
>
>
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