Champions for HIV-Free Generation Officials Visit Mozambique; Mogae Urges for Increased Action Against Disease

Festus Mogae, the former president of Botswana, on Monday in Mozambique's capital of Maputo said that Africans should not give up on the fight against HIV/AIDS, adding that despite the efforts already made on the continent, much more is required, AIM/AllAfrica.com reports. Mogae said, "We must not desist. We have already done a lot, but Africans need to do a lot more to finish this pandemic." According to Mogae, one of the "factors that facilitates the spread of HIV/AIDS is that men have many partners, many girlfriends, and that's a problem." He added, "We can do a lot about this. We have to change our behavior."

Mogae was in Mozambique with former Mozambican head of state Joaquim Chissano and Joyce Mhaville, director of Kenya's National AIDS Control Council, all of whom are involved with the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation campaign. Mogae said the group is in Mozambique to share ideas with government and civil society officials "about what can be done to halt the spread of AIDS." He added, "We would like to advise, encourage and persuade leaders to pay more attention to campaigns against HIV/AIDS."

The delegation will be in the country for two days and will continue its tour in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia (AIM/AllAfrica.com, 2/9).

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