GLIA, CNLS discuss HIV prevention among mobile populations

The Great Lakes Initiative against HIV/AIDS (GLIA) and the National Commission for the fight against HIV/AIDS (CNLS) Friday held a 3-day meeting aimed at strengthening the operational approach towards the betterment of what was termed as the mobile population. These include drivers engaged in trans-boundary transportation of goods, refugees, and internally displaced people in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The meeting was held at Hotel Alpha Palace in Kigali. According to the Executive Secretary of CNLS, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, this meeting will boost GLIA and CNLS’ fight against HIV/AIDS and increase its effectiveness. She said GLIA’s main task is to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and to improve the health status of those living with it.GLIA has six member countries namely Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Also on the agenda, was planning for 2009/2010 budget.Binagwaho also revealed that this was the first time the two were meeting, which will further improve their working cooperation. “GLIA started in 1997 in Rwanda. The country was using her own funds to run it until it was internationally supported to include all 6 member countries. Its headquarters are in Rwanda”, Dr. Eugene Rurangwa, GLIA’s Director of Operations and Technical Application explained. GLIA’s secretariat consists of Health Ministers and prior to this meeting that has put forward consolidation towards better performance, its operations had been executed on individual basis. Ends