AIDS is a bona fide "National Disaster" threatening long term prospects for development in at least 10 African Countries, according to a declaration signed sunday by African leaders attending the 11th International Conference on AIDS and STDs[Sexually transmitted diseases] in Lusaka, Zambia. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is "depleting the most educated,energetic and productive population, thus draining human capital development," according to a statement co-authored by heads of state and government representatives of 10 Sub-Saharan countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. An Emergency response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is required and therefore African leaders have pledged to provide political leadership and to make HIV/AIDS a priority in all development probrams at all levels. The impact that AIDS is already having on Sub-Saharan Africa is catastrophic and the scenario will only worsen unless Global leaders work together to invest more in prevention efforts and programs to address the multitude of social and economic problems that AIDS has brought. It really scares me that the AIDS epidemic has reached a stage where it would be declared a "National Disaster" in parts of Africa. I wonder how much longer it is going to take our leaders to act, by focusing a greater attention on the emergency nature of the epidemic in many African countries. God Bless and Peace Be Upon All Alasana Bah ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------