Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - 21 September 2000
In her keynote address, International Federation President Astrid Heiberg stressed the need to make HIV/AIDS the "number one priority in Africa for the next decade". It was because we had to, she said, because AIDS was "killing African communities and because we are part of those communities. That means we are part of the problem but we are also part of the solution."
The challenges were huge, she added but the resources at the disposal of the Red Cross and Red Crescent were even greater because it has millions of volunteers who place the Movement into the heart of the community on a daily basis.
The battle against HIV/AIDS is the focus of a 10-year plan of action on public health in Africa that will be launched on September 24. The African Red Cross Red Crescent Health Initiative (ARCHI 2010) makes HIV/AIDS the most urgent priority in public health issues but will also target action to combat malaria, vaccine preventable diseases such as polio, as well as malnutrition and other illnesses.
Federation Secretary General, Didier Cherpitel called for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to make a greater impact on the two key challenges facing the continent. "Millions of Africans depend on us. We have to make a difference, to show results, but we also need the means to support all our initiatives."
More than 500 participants including representatives from all 53 African Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Federation, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and donor Red Cross Societies are attending the Pan African conference being held in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, until September 25.
The opening ceremony kicked off with a girls choir singing the Red Cross Red Crescent hymn and a welcoming address by the President of the Burkinabe Red Cross, Madame Bana Ouandaogo who called for original and effective solutions to deal with the crises facing Africa.
The conference was officially launched by the President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore who told participants that Africa was paying a heavy price for its instability which made the daily activities of the Red Cross Red Crescent even more essential if poverty and despair were to be defeated. It was a theme echoed by ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger who told delegates that the "conference must bring hope and reinforce the commitment to help the most vulnerable people."
The following few days will be taken up with concrete proposals on advocacy and means of strengthening resources to address public health and food security issues before a final declaration is signed at the end of the conference. The proposals will include an intensification of information campaigns to reach wider audiences by deploying millions of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers who can take key messages into the heart of all communities. More volunteers will also be recruited and trained.
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