Aids threatens Africa's development, Amoako warns

Abstract

The Chairman of the Commission for HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA), Dr K.Y. Amoako, has opened the Second Meeting of the Commission in Maputo, Mozambique with a warning to Africa’s governments that HIV/AIDS “poses the greatest threat to sustained economic development in Africa.” Both Patrons of CHGA, H.E. Kenneth Kaunda, former president of Zambia, and H.E. Pascoal Mocumbi, former prime minister of Mozambique, are attending the meeting, along with other commissioners. Also present at the opening session was the Prime Minister of Mozambique, Luisa Dias Diogu, and other government officials. Other participants include UN partner agencies, civil society organizations and research partners. Amoako said that while it was vital to focus on immediate challenges they could distract policy makers from the equally pressing demand – the need to plan for the long term.