International Council of Women African Regional Conference Opens in Kenya

A four-day Africa regional conference organized by the International Council of Women opened in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday. Attended by leading women from at least 16 African countries affiliated with the council, the conference -- themed "Impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa," will address the adverse effects the epidemic has caused across the continent, especially in the sub-Saharan region.

In his opening speech, Kenya's Minister for Health Sam Ongeri said Kenya's national HIV/AIDS prevalence is about 14 percent, and about 1.5 million people have died since the first case was reported in 1984. He also said that, at present, 2.2 million Kenyans are infected with HIV, 10 percent of whom have developed AIDS.

Ongeri told conference participants that more than 1 million children in Kenya have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and about 700 people are dying daily. In addition, Kenya incurs the direct and indirect economic loss of $2.7 million a day due to the disease. Ongeri pointed out that realization of the gravity of the problem led to the declaration of AIDS as a national disaster two years ago by Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi and the establishment of the National AIDS Control Council. The minister disclosed that under the new multi-sectoral approach to HIV/AIDS, Kenya has made tremendous efforts to empower women and gain their participation in activities aimed at HIV prevention.

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