The AfDB on Monday, December 1, 2008, joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World AIDS Day. As part of the events marking this day, the AfDB organized a forum in Tunis in which medical experts and AfDB staff exchanged views on HIV-related issues. Chaired by the AfDB Corporate Services Vice President, Arunma Oteh, the forum featured a special presentation on "AIDS in the workplace: Stigma and Discrimination" by Dr. Henri Chenal, Director General of the Abidjan Integrated Centre of Bio-Clinical Research (CIRBA). Dr. Chenal has been living with HIV for over ten years and has been advocating for people living positively with HIV.
"Lead - Empower - Deliver" is the slogan that marks the 20th anniversary of the World AIDS Day (WAD). The global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic has gained considerable momentum since the inception of the WAD. Awareness campaigns are changing lives, but the stigma surrounding the virus continues to pose challenges. While many challenges still remain, there are success stories across the continent.
To help reduce the spread of the virus, the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has been supporting its regional member countries by financing HIV/AIDS initiatives. Between 1997 and 2007, the AfDB provided approximately US$ 224 million to fund HIV-related projects on the continent.
CONTACT: Yolanda Nunes Correia Tel.: +216 71 10 31 58 - E-mail: y.nunes-correia@afdb.org