Dec 08, 2015 During her recent visit to South Africa, Peng Liyuan, China’s first lady attended a meeting of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS held in Johannesburg.
The organization is a coalition of 40 African First Ladies, who have joined forces to fight against HIV and AIDS.
The First Ladies of OAFLA are committed to using their capacities to improve the lives of the vulnerable families through advocacy, social and resource mobilization.
Peng, who is a World Health Organization goodwill ambassador for AIDS and tuberculosis, has been tasked to promote cooperation between China and other countries on AIDS prevention and control.
Speaking during the event, Peng said:
“I’m determined to do my best to combat AIDS. With the help of the Chinese government and social forces in the last ten years, I’ve been to many places in China to visit HIV/AIDS patients, publicize knowledge on prevention of HIV/AIDS, promote the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients, call on the society to care for HIV/AIDS patients and eliminate discrimination towards HIV/AIDS patients, all of which have reaped great achievements,”
Also addressing the gathering, Nompumelelo Ntuli, Wife of President Zuma, said:
“In order for us to ensure an HIV free generation across Africa, we must not forget the structural and societal issues that place our adolescent girls at risk of acquiring HIV AIDS. Poverty, gender inequality, gender-based violence, child marriage, all of these issues hinder our youth from benefiting from the education and care that is required to ensure they reach their full potential,”
The United Nations also recently said that significant advances have been made in the treatment and prevention of AIDS, since the discovery of the HIV virus in 1984.
