First Lady Jeannette Kagame has called on nations to improve their systems involved with dealing with HIV/AIDS in response to widespread cases of the virus resistance in low and middle-income countries.

The First Lady was yesterday speaking at the open session of the 16th General Assembly of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), organised in the margins of the African Union Summit.

She spoke alongside Ghanaian First Lady and president of OAFLA Nana Lordina Mahama, Ethiopian First Lady Roman Tesfaye, Ban Soon-taek, wife of UN secretary-general, and Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS.

The First Lady said recent studies that have shown trends of the virus’ resistance ought to serve as a wake-up call for countries to increase efforts in strengthening systems involved with dealing with HIV/AIDS.

"Our efforts over the years are now at risk of being reversed, hence putting us again in danger of not fulfilling our vision for the eradication of this virus. This serves as another wake-up call for us to double our energies in strengthening our systems,” Mrs Kagame said.

Going forward, she said, there was need to reflect on procedures that would make it possible to quickly anticipate, prevent, track and treat when confronted with infectious diseases.

The theme for this year’s General Assembly was "Advancing sustainable partnerships to end paediatric AIDS and improve adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights.”

"We should strive for predictable systems that virtually operate in auto-pilot mode and evolve from our current situations of doing more of fire-fighting activities, attempting to stop what is crippling the wellbeing of our people,” she said.

‘Crucial steps’

Among the crucial steps recommended by the First Lady was evaluation and understanding of contextual realities which would inform the paths to be taken and investments to be made.

"We must force ourselves to take a harsh look at our own expectations, and this must be accompanied by the right mindset; one that sees where we stand in relation to where we need to be. Mindsets that will push us all, to act on this sense of urgency, to find a solution, so we can see the fruits of our labour in our lifetime,” she added.

She emphasised the need to create partnerships that would strengthen the health sector while at the same time learning from success stories from around the world which can be applied in local and regional context.

Mrs Kagame also gave insights to Rwanda’s experience in immunising girls against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) during a working lunch hosted by OAFLA and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, following the open session. 

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer if not treated early.

So far, 93 per cent of Rwandan girls have been immunised against the virus with the target to have all women in the country free of cervical cancer by 2020.

The First Lady said progress had been achieved through multiple efforts including working with the school system, educating local and community leaders on the need for the vaccine and private public partnerships to avail the vaccines.

OAFLA is a coalition of 40 African first ladies who act as a voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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