Africa Action Marks International Women's Day with Focus on HIV/AIDS

March 8, 2007

Africa Action (Washington, DC)

PRESS RELEASE

March 8, 2007

Posted to the web March 8, 2007

Washington, D.C.

Africa Action marks International Women's Day with a recognition that

the global HIV/AIDS crisis continues to take a disproportionate toll

on the world's women, and with a call to U.S. and international

policymakers to do more to address the vulnerability of women and

girls to HIV/AIDS and other health challenges.

Nii Akuetteh, Executive Director of Africa Action, said

today, " Increasingly, in Africa and globally, HIV/AIDS has a woman's

face. Not only are women more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS,

they are also more likely to be the primary care givers for those who

are HIV-positive. If we are to successfully fight this pandemic, we

need to promote strategies that address the gender inequalities that

leave women and girls most vulnerable. "

Africa Action notes that the most recent figures from the United

Nations (UN) reveal an increase in the number of adult women living

with HIV/AIDS in every region of the world. In sub-Saharan Africa,

for every ten adult men living with HIV, there are about 14 adult

women who are living with the virus. Across all age groups, almost

60% of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa are women. In

some countries, like South Africa, young women aged 15—24 are up to

four times more likely to contract HIV than their male counterparts.

Ann-Louise Colgan, Director of Policy Analysis & Communications at

Africa Action, said today, " Across the African continent and around

the world, women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and

other poverty-related diseases. Greater efforts are needed to expand

access to comprehensive health care, to ensure that women and girls

are protected from HIV infection, and to guarantee that all women

living with HIV/AIDS have access to life-prolonging treatment and

care. "

Africa Action supports the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for

Women and Youth Act (PATHWAY Act), which is scheduled to be re-

introduced in Congress in the coming days. This Act originated in

the office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), who is a Board member

of Africa Action. The PATHWAY Act removes the current requirement

that one-third of all international prevention funding be spent on

abstinence-until-marriage programs. It also requires the President

to develop a comprehensive and integrated HIV prevention strategy to

address the vulnerabilities of women and girls in each country

receiving U.S. assistance to combat HIV/AIDS.

Marie e Brill, Director of Public Education & Mobilization at

Africa Action, said today, " On International Women's Day, as we honor

the critical contributions made by women around the globe and in all

areas of life, we must also remember and address the huge challenges

women still face. HIV/AIDS is a deadly threat to women and girls

across the world, and we stand together in demanding new efforts by

our government and others to promote the health and well-being of

women everywhere. "

Africa Action will shortly release an updated version of its fact

sheet, " AIDS has a Woman's Face " , looking at the impact of HIV/AIDS

on women in Africa and the Diaspora, and advocating policy changes

that can help turn the tide of this pandemic. It will be available

today on the organization's website at:

http://www.africaaction.org/campaign_new/toolkit_fact_sheets.php

Africa Action supports the rally being held this afternoon at 3:00pm

by the American Medical Student Association on Capitol Hill. More

details are available at http://www.amsa.org

For more information and analysis on Africa's HIV/AIDS crisis, see

http://www.africaaction.org/aids

March 8, 2007