More feature stories on Western and Central Africa

Liberia launches national agenda to improve the health of women and girls
18 October 2010|
Following a 14-year civil war, Liberia has faced a host of post-conflict challenges that have increased the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection, including gender-related violence, poverty, population displacement and limited access to education and health services.
African law students argue against criminalisation of HIV transmission
12 October 2010|
More than 120 young law students from 60 universities representing 24 African countries gathered in Cotonou (Benin) from 4-9 October 2010 to compete in the 19th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
President of Mali committed to AIDS response
05 October 2010|
The President of Mali, His Excellency Amadou Toumani Touré, is on a three-day visit to the United States to reinforce his country’s commitment to the AIDS response. The President is participating in the Global Fund’s Replenishment conference, taking place on 4 and 5 October and is meeting with a number of high ranking officials from the United Nations and the US administration.
Sierra Leone wins MDG Award for AIDS response
23 September 2010|
At a ceremony on the eve of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals Summit, held in New York from 20-22 September, the Government of Sierra Leone was presented with an MDG Award for its leadership and progress towards achieving MDG 6, to stop and reverse the spread of HIV by 2015.
High-level panel to discuss ‘AIDS plus MDG’ approach
22 September 2010|
A global consensus is emerging that accelerated progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and more efficient use of resources can be achieved by taking the AIDS response out of isolation and integrating it with efforts to achieve other health and development goals. On 22 September, the last day of the UN MDG Summit in New York, UNAIDS will co-host the event ‘AIDS plus MDGs: Delivering results towards our shared commitments’ together with the Governments of China, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa.
MDGs Summit: Nigerian AIDS activist optimistic about success
21 September 2010|
Lucy Attah has high hopes for this week’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit. As a woman living with HIV and a gender activist from Nigeria, she believes the summit is an important opportunity to discuss issues of women’s equality and empowerment and achieving universal access to HIV services.
H.E Azeb Mesfin, First Lady of Ethiopia, Chair of OAFLA and Mr Michel Sidibé
African First Ladies and UNAIDS to work together for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
03 August 2010|
In its 8th General Assembly, members of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) gathered in Kampala, Uganda, to deliberate on the theme of “Maternal and Child Health.” The First Ladies renewed their commitment to champion the well-being of African women and children in a Declaration presented at the end of the meeting.
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UNDP’s Administrator Helen Clark concludes four-country Africa tour
21 May 2010|
The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark recently ended a four-country tour of Africa to highlight progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the run-up to the MDGs Summit in September 2010. Ms Clark travelled to Mali, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, and South Africa.
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A mother’s joy, a mother’s challenge: Cameroon copes with mother to child HIV transmission
21 May 2010|
After almost ten years, 28-year old Angele is a mother again. “My daughter is my joy. She is such a wonder,” said the young woman who wishes to keep her identity a secret as she is living with HIV in Oug-ebe, a shantytown in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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African nations celebrate 50th anniversary
20 May 2010|
The heads of seven African states are in Yaoundé at the invitation of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their countries’ independence on Thursday. The seven leaders, who come mostly from central Africa, also took part in the closing ceremony of the international conference “Africa 21” on Wednesday evening.
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International conference begins in Cameroon
17 May 2010|
The African continent is experiencing major changes as 17 African countries prepare to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their independence in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Two days before the anniversary celebrations, a high-level international conference, Africa 21 began on Tuesday in Yaoundé. The conference is called “Africa, a chance for the world: realities and challenges,” and brings together top politicians, economists, international civil servants and business leaders, including former United Nations Secretaries of State, Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Much of the debate will focus on macro-economic issues.
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Joint Mission to Mali Concludes
06 May 2010|
On the fourth and final day of their official visit to Mali, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé commended President Amadou Toumani Touré on achievements in the country’s AIDS response and said that Mali had set an example for other countries in the region to follow.
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UNDP and UNAIDS joint mission to Mali continues
03 May 2010|
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé began their four-day mission to Mali in the ancient city of Timbuktu, where they visited Groupe d'Appui à la Formation de Base (GAFB), a local civil society organization that provides HIV prevention through innovative peer education programmes among vulnerable populations, including uniformed services, youth, and domestic workers.
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First joint mission by UNDP and UNAIDS to Mali
01 May 2010|
The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark and Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé are on a four day mission to Mali. It is the first joint mission to Mali by these two UN agencies and Ms Clark, who is also Chair of the United Nations Development Group and Chair of the UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO) will call for an accelerated national AIDS response in the lead-up to 2015, the target date set by the international community for reaching the Millennium Development Goals.
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No African child should be born with HIV by 2015
20 April 2010|
During an official visit to Senegal, the UNAIDS Executive Director was received by the President, Mr Abdoulaye Wade, on 19 April.
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UNICEF Executive Director launches 'Facts for Life' in Lesotho
12 April 2010|
During a visit to Lesotho UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman (give date) launched Facts for Life, a publication that delivers life-saving information to families and communities on how to prevent child and maternal deaths, diseases, injuries and violence.
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New campaign to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Lesotho
01 April 2010|
Malekena George, from Lesotho’s Berea district, is eight months pregnant and living with HIV. The Lesotho Ministry of Health, with help from UNICEF and other partners, is working to ensure that her second baby is not born with HIV.
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UNDP to partner with Sony and JICA in Cameroon and Ghana during FIFA World Cup
30 March 2010|
Sony Corporation is partnering with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to bring health information, with a special focus on HIV, to vulnerable communities in Cameroon and Ghana.
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Taking HIV prevention on the road
22 March 2010|
For many in West Africa, the road network is a vital socio-economic lifeline but it can also be a way for the spread of HIV. An ambitious programme, the World Bank Abidjan-Lagos Transport Corridor (ALCO) project, has seen marked success in helping people living and working along this highway to reduce their vulnerability to HIV.
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South Africa committed to achieving universal access
08 March 2010|
South Africa is transforming its AIDS response. Today, the Deputy President of South Africa HE Mr Kgalema Motlanthe met with Executive Directors of UNAIDS and Global Fund in Johannesburg. He recommitted his government’s commitment to meet their universal access targets.

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21 March 2013

UNAIDS welcomes UK’s strong commitment to development aid . More

20 March 2013

UNAIDS calls for Zero parallel systems for HIV and TB. More

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