Angolan Official Calls for Creation of Parliamentary HIV/AIDS Commission

Joao Lourenco, first deputy speaker of Angola's National Assembly, on Tuesday called for the creation of a parliamentary HIV/AIDS commission to address issues surrounding the disease, the Angola Press reports. According to Lourenco, members of parliament, the National AIDS Commission and nongovernmental organizations should establish a permanent relationship with the committee. He said that members of parliament should take a larger role in Angola's HIV/AIDS strategies in an effort to assist HIV-positive people, adding that they also should help the country's efforts to obtain foreign, technical and financial aid. In addition, Lourenco said that parliament should hold more frequent sessions and discussions on the disease and involve all sectors of society.

Lourenco was speaking at a workshop organized by the Group of Women Parliamentarians of the National Assembly. The workshop includes two panels that examine women's contribution to HIV/AIDS efforts and the experiences of NGOs in addressing the disease (Angola Press, 3/31).