More feature stories on Western and Central Africa

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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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Global Fund projects that UNAIDS’ call for elimination of mother–to-child HIV transmission by 2015 is within reach
08 March 2010|
A new report by the Global Fund projects that UNAIDS’ call for the virtual elimination of mother–to-child transmission by 2015 is within reach. UNAIDS’ Executive Director and South Africa’s Health Minister joined the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the launch of the Global Fund 2010 Results Report in South Africa which highlights progress made towards these three diseases.
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New wave of cooperatives in Cameroon help HIV-positive women gain economic independence
25 February 2010|
Many people living with HIV face not only health issues but may also struggle to make ends meet economically. A number of HIV-positive women in north-west Cameroon are taking the initiative by generating income through cooperatives, with the assistance of the International Labour Organization (ILO) funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
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Nigeria to accelerate universal access efforts in HIV response
23 February 2010|
There are nearly three million people living with HIV in Nigeria. After South Africa, the country has the largest number of people living with HIV in the continent. Each day there are about 1000 new infections. National HIV prevalence is around 4.6%. But these figures mask the multiple epidemics in the various states of the country. Many of the people living with HIV are poor. Add to this stigma and discrimination.
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Pampaida: millennium development in action in Nigeria
22 February 2010|
Agnes, barely six months old, was comfortable going into the lap of complete strangers, smiling and clutching fingers that were extended towards her. She has been making regular visits to the clinic with her mother Sarah and father Yusuf Samalia. These have been made possible by the Millennium Village Project that is providing comprehensive health, education and poverty alleviation programmes in the Pampaida village located in the Kaduna state of Nigeria. Of the 20,000 people who live in the area around 44% are in the reproductive age groups.
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Removing bottle-necks for Universal Access in Central African Republic
08 February 2010|
The Central African Republic, one of the poorest countries in the world, has been heavily affected by the HIV epidemic. It is estimated that 160 000 people are living with HIV in the country, and only one in four of those in need have access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART).
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16 Days of Activism: The forgotten victims of conflict in the Congo
09 December 2009|
Tomorrow, December 10 marks the end of 16 days of activism to end violence against women, an international campaign. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, is taking the opportunity to draw attention to its work, alongside local partners, in challenging the very high number of rapes occurring in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Private sector in West and Central Africa explore strategic partnerships for improved health outcomes
27 October 2009|
A strategic combination of private sector know-how and technologies with public sector expertise and funding could lead to improved health and a more efficient AIDS response in West and Central Africa. This was the message from a one day workshop held in Ghana focusing on the role of the private sector in Global Fund processes that brought together companies, national business coalitions tackling HIV and employers federations, as well as trade unions and development partners from all over West and Central Africa.
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Nigeria launches postal service campaign for HIV awareness
21 October 2009|
To mark World Post Day on 9 October, Nigeria held a national launch of a global awareness campaign in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union, UNAIDS, the ILO and UNI Global.
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Governments and civil society expand access to HIV testing and counselling
30 September 2009|
A brightly coloured van known as the ‘Tutu Tester’ has become a familiar sight in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of an accelerating drive to persuade people to know their HIV status. More than 10 000 people have been tested and counselled since May 2008 when the mobile clinic from the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation took to the road.
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UNAIDS, Millennium Villages join forces to keep children free from HIV in Africa
21 September 2009|
UNAIDS and the Millennium Villages Project signed an agreement in New York to strengthen efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa. The aim of the partnership is to help local governments create “Mother to child transmission-free zones” in 14 ‘Millennium Villages’ across ten African countries.

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31 July 2013

UNAIDS urges Greek authorities to repeal Sanitary Decree. More

17 July 2013

UNAIDS condemns killing of AIDS activist Eric Lembembe. More

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