AU SUMMIT: Uhuru’s Statement On HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis And Malaria

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President Uhuru was received by Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria Amb. Tom Amollo, 11 year old Masego Amollo and Mrs. Nosi Amollo on arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airpot, Abuja.

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has today July 15 hosted the Special Summit of the African Union on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, with the theme: “Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Response in Africa: Past, Present and the Future”.

President Uhuru Kenyatta of gave more light on how to implement the accelerated action towards universal access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria services.

Below is the president’s full speech;
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Let me start by thanking the African Union and Your Excellency, GoodLuck Jonathan, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for hosting this Summit whose objective is to review progress on the implementation of the Abuja call for accelerated action towards universal access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria services.

This is very timely given that we all committed ourselves to working collectively to halt the spread of HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to achieve the target set by Millennium Development Goal Number 6. I am pleased to inform this distinguished gathering that Kenya has made very significant progress towards this goal.

The HIV prevalence has reduced from a high of 13.5% in 2000 to currently below 6% while the numbers of new HIV infections have reduced by a remarkable 50%.

In the area of Tuberculosis control, Kenya has already achieved the internationally set targets of Tuberculosis detection and treatment success rates of 85%.

*Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Meets President Uhuru in Naigeria*

Indeed, the number of new TB infections is now on a downward trend. With regard to malaria control, the distribution of insecticide treated bed nets to those at risk and the free access to malaria treatment has seen a marked reduction of malaria cases resulting in a 40% reduction in deaths of children less than five years of age.

These achievements are a result of the scale up of access to health commodities used in the prevention and control of these 3 diseases which pose serious public health threats to this continent.

Most of these commodities which require quality assurance from the World Health Organization are however not manufactured in Africa.

We already have world class manufacturing facilities in Africa, with the capacity to produce everything that we need to win the war against these diseases.

What we need to do is to support the manufacturing facilities that exist by provision of market within the continent.

For example in East Africa, we have a WHO certified facility in Uganda, which we are calling upon you to utilize. If adequately supported, that plant can meet the needs of many African countries.