Xth International Conference on HIV/AIDS and STDs in Africa The Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa Annex 1 Presentation
by Mr. Mobio, Mayor of Abidjan Mr. Minister of Interior and National Integration, Your presence today to preside over the solemn opening of the First Symposium of African Mayors on HIV/AIDS and STDs reveals the high esteem and consideration that you grant the decentralized structure of the State embodied in local government. On behalf of all of us, I would like to express our gratitude for all you have done (and continue to do) for this Institution that we serve and to which we belong. Madame Resident Representative of UNDP, your presence at this Symposium does not surprise us; it is a testimony of your faith and that of the Institution you represent in the future of cities. Let me assure you that this support will strengthen our reflection during the Symposium. We wish to convey to you our highest esteem. We are a group of 15 Mayors from 15 African cities gathered today in Abidjan for a satellite Symposium within the framework of the Xth International Conference on HIV/AIDS and STDs in Africa. In spite of the magnitude of your duties and your concerns, you have accepted our invitation to this Symposium and have thereby shown in the most significant manner the importance you bestow on our Africa, and particularly on the current issue of HIV/AIDS and STDs. You have my thanks, but more importantly, the people of Abidjan have shown you the extent of our gratitude and friendship. Obviously, relationships between African cities do not need to seek the glamour of dramatic encounters nor to cultivate excitement in order to demonstrate their strength. But the most united families are happy to share the joy of gathering, and it is for each one an opportunity to feel stronger, better understood, and assured of support in case of need. Your presence here conveys a sign and a promise, or rather a conviction, the sign of our agreement, and my conviction, as in each of our meetings, to benefit from the breadth of your views and the pertinence of your analyses. The world today is beset with so many problems; their dimension, multiplicity, diversity and overlapping nature are such that while it is possible for the first time to acknowledge them thanks to a profusion of technological means never available before, no State, and even less any city, be it the most powerful, can resolve them alone. This is the true purpose of our gathering today; a large gathering that confirms the importance and the significance of the issue: HIV/AIDS and STDs in Africa. Our sheer numbers here reveal our apprehensions and our expectations. The struggle against HIV/AIDS and STDs, one of the greatest ills of this century, is a duty, a necessity which we cannot evade. Naturally, we cannot – we must not – overlook the larger picture of the health problems in our urban environment. For the moment, it seems useful and even essential, at the time of the Xth International Conference about HIV/AIDS and STDs, for the Mayors to adopt a common stance. Why? Because, we are, Dear Colleagues, at the heart of a city’s daily life, at the heart of concrete, immediate and sustainable action. Because the conscience of the people is the conscience of their leaders. And the Mayors of cities, be they small or large, are today the guides and the guardians of the city. The evolution of urban society – and of the world in general – depends largely on our determination and our ability to lead the way. Today, more than ever, we must uphold our responsibilities; 30 million human beings are infected by HIV/AIDS of whom 70% are here in Africa. This is a frightful reality, even more tragic when we remember the statistics that health specialists presented last Sunday: women and children are the most affected. Indeed, the life force of our countries. What will happen to the implementation of our development policies? The city of Abidjan and its leaders cannot offer a miraculous solution and even less a magic potion… Moreover the approaches and various solutions for our cities cannot be identical. Nonetheless, there are clear guiding principles that we can agree on… First, we need action which will stimulate the creation of a dynamic process. We need a dynamic of hope which will encourage perseverance beyond daily obstacles. As I mentioned earlier, hope is the motivation that has already led us to work together for many years. Yes, the hope for greater awareness and understanding of the problems confronting our cities since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. How can we put into practice achievable, fair and collaborative approaches that will help us all to translate greater awareness and understanding into effective actions? One way is to share our work, our experience and our knowledge in order to identify appropriate solutions from which we can all benefit. But our goal is more ambitious. It seeks also to galvanise our collective strength and energy to secure the support and the commitment of the international community and the States that federate us. They possess, more than we, the financial and regulatory authority. Our hope is also to galvanise our citizens, from the anonymous to the most famous – does HIV/AIDS choose in any case? – and to ensure that together we take up our respective responsibilities to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But, my Fellow Mayors, why should we be concerned when many of our own citizens do not appear to be concerned? We must be concerned! Concerned about the progressive deterioration of our work force, concerned about the spread and the relentlessness of the epidemic, which deprives us of our "raison d’être," of our "raison de vivre": our health. Legitimate concerns, felt by everyone, from the poorest to the wealthiest, from the mightiest to the weakest; general and growing concerns felt by Mayors and by all public leaders. But we must heed the advice and counsel of scientists and researchers whose reputations in the international scientific community are highly respected and a source of pride for us all. It is time to reflect on the full impact of the epidemic. On the eve of the 21st century, more than half of the world’s population live in urban areas. In Africa, by the year 2000, 60 to 70% of urban dwellers will be less than 40 year-old. Along with increasing poverty, African cities must tackle those factors which foster the increasing spread of HIV infection. While HIV/AIDS is a health issue, it also needs to be addressed within the context of local and urban management. Local communities and governments must be focal points in the response to the epidemic, because municipal authority is implicated in community-based activities and actions and can be a powerful catalyst contributing to the empowerment of groups, families and individuals. Fellow Mayors, we must accept the fact that we are principal actors in the struggle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The magnitude of this challenge can only be resolved through sustainable and firm public commitment. Technical, financial and programmatic issues must also be addressed. However for progress to be achieved, it is essential that an enabling environment based on appropriate policies and political commitment, be established. Let us be clear. What we want to launch is a genuine solidarity movement between African cities and cities worldwide; it has already begun among African cities. I pray that this dialogue where the heart and the mind meet will resonate and inspire governments and people that are – like us – fortunate to be master of their choices, and nourished by the spirit of freedom. This is my wish in this month of December. A month of hope that the message of love from the manger of Bethlehem will soon illuminate. I thank you. |
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