United Nations Development Programme (New York) - March 11, 2003

These activities began to take shape at a workshop earlier this year in which eight ministers learned the need for emotional intelligence - traits such as empathy, motivation, persistence, warmth and social skills - vital for effective interpersonal relations and leadership in dealing with the epidemic. UNDP organized the event in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the National Council for the Campaign against HIV/AIDS.

Subsequent events brought together 120 high-level representatives from 14 ministries, civil society, the private sector, and the arts and media. "If Senegal is cited as an example in containing HIV/AIDS, it is still possible to do better if everyone tries and every sector is fully committed," Health Minister Eva-Marie Coll Seck told the group.

During three sessions in June, July and September participants learned techniques for effective leadership and organizational change, based on emotional intelligence.

UNDP and the UN family are committed to providing technical and financial resources, in addition to support by other partners and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to help Senegal attain the objective in its national plan for 2002-2006 of maintaining gains against the epidemic, Ahmed Rhazaoui, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator, told the group.

The aim is to keep the infection rate for adults below 3 per cent, improve the quality of life for people living with the virus, reduce the socio-economic impact of the epidemic and make anti-retroviral treatment and medication against opportunistic infections available.

Dr. Moustapha Gueye, UNDP Senior Policy Advisor, and Dr. Ibra Ndoye, Executive Secretary of the National Council, noted that though the prevalence rate is low, Senegal is at a crossroads and faces great challenges in mobilizing every level of society and all sectors of government against the epidemic.

Between the sessions, participants developed practical initiatives drawing on lessons learned. Three journalists, for example, have launched "Pens for Life against HIV/AIDS" to mobilize a dozen leading writers to support the campaign against the epidemic.

Participating artists are seeking a breakthrough in community HIV/AIDS awareness programmes based on the arts through an initiative next year.

The Ministry of Tourism plans to mobilize 19 tourism organizations to carry out awareness-raising activities for their members.

The Ministry of Civil Service is organizing a campaign against stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS by putting in place a legal framework of protection.

Private sector leaders are planning to set up committees in their enterprises over the next two years to support the campaign against the disease.

Leadership training enables those in top positions in every sector to better understand, listen and mobilize to achieve effective and lasting results at the local, regional and national level and thus progress towards Millennium

Development Goal 6 - halting and then reversing the spread of the epidemic by 2015.

For further information please contact Katy Sarr, UNDP Senegal, or Nicholas Gouede, UNDP Communications Office.

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