U.S. Conference of Mayors to Send Delegation to Africa to Develop HIV/AIDS Partnership

The U.S. Conference of Mayors next week will send a delegation of 10 mayors to South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Uganda to examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on economic and youth development there, the South African Press Association reports (South African Press Association, 8/21). The trip will serve as a follow-up to initial meetings between U.S. and African mayors, which took place during the 2nd International Conference of Mayors meeting in Denver in June. Conference President James Garner, mayor of Hempstead, N.Y., said, "Twenty-five years ago, U.S. mayors were faced with the AIDS epidemic and moved forward educating the citizens of our nation on HIV/AIDS and prevention," adding, "As mayors, we know the depth of this challenge. We are committed to this cause and know that this mission will be another significant step towards furthering our partnership with African mayors" (U.S. Conference of Mayors release, 8/21). As a result of the trip to Africa, the delegation hopes to develop a "concrete" cooperational plan to address the epidemic, the South African Press Association reports (South African Press Association, 8/21). The mission is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa and is funded in part by Coca-Cola, Motorola, Altria and software company Tridium. The CDC has also provided assistance for the initiative. The delegation will include Hempstead, Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran and Mayors Irma Anderson of Richmond, Calif.; Victor Ashe of Knoxville, Tenn.; C. Jack Ellis of Macon, Ga.; Michael Guido of Dearborn, Mich.; Elizabeth Kautz of Burnsville, Minn.; Scott King of Gary, Ind.; Harvey Johnson of Jackson, Miss.; and Meyera Oberndorf of Virginia Beach, Va. (U.S. Conference of Mayors release, 8/21).

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