African round up - June

Obama’s granny in first public duty

The Kenyan grandmother of American president Barrack Obama was given the honour of flagging off the December 2008 World AIDS Day marathon in Kisumu (western Kenya), in what looked like the first of a series of high-profile public roles that she is set to play. Mama Sarah Obama later told journalists: “I feel greatly privileged to be invited [to this event] because my grandson is very concerned about the ravages of HIV”. During his visit to Kisumu in 2006, Obama, then a senator, went through a HIV counselling and testing procedure. At 15%, the HIV prevalence rate in Kisumu is double the national rate of 7.5%.

Liberian president receives FAO award

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)’s Ceres Medal Award for 2008 has been given to President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. The award is in recognition of her commitment to promoting peace, food security, health and education as a means of achieving a Liberia free of hunger and poverty. The Ceres Medal is named after the Roman goddess of agriculture, and is awarded annually to women who have made an outstanding contribution to social and humanitarian affairs or to agriculture and food security.

World Bank launches Phase II malaria programme

African countries are to benefit from a US$1.1 billion aid to expand their malaria prevention programmes. The Bank’s Vice President for Africa Region, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili said the aid aims to save more lives, improve health systems and help eligible countries to work together to stop the spread of malaria.

The AIDS message goes hi-tec in South Africa

Since 1st December 2008, millions of South Africans have been receiving AIDS messages through their mobile phone. This new way of delivering health promotion is part of Project Masiluleke, which was set up to encourage people to seek HIV testing and treatment. Following the launch of the project, calls to HIV services went up by 200%. There are an estimated 43 million mobile hand sets in South Africa, a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jollie adopt another Ethiopian girl

Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jollie are adopting yet another Ethiopian child. The adoption will increase the size of the couple’s household from seven to nine. Already, they have three children of their own, plus two others adopted from Cambodia and Vietnam, and four-year old Zahara, who was adopted from Ethiopia earlier. Pitt and Jollie were in Addis Ababa earlier this year to sign the adoption papers and to visit the AIDS clinic that they founded after adopting Zahara.

Pastor wins prestigious award for AIDS work

Ugandan pastor Rev Canon Gideon Byamugisha has been awarded the 2009 Niwano Peace Prize in recognition of his pioneering work as an AIDS advocate and campaigner against AIDS-related stigma. Rev Gideon was the first ever African religious leader to openly declare that he is HIV positive. He will collect his prize – worth US$213,000 - in Tokyo on May 7.

Posted On: 16 June 2009 at 12:05PM
Tags: African round-up

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