ASABA: Kenneth Kaunda Urges Collective Action On HIV/AIDS In Africa

PHOTO: FORMER ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT, DR. KENNETH KAUNDA.

ASABA, April 27, (THEWILL) - Former President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda has challenged African nations to pull resources together in fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS that is ravaging the continent while also calling on Nigeria to return to agriculture.

Dr. Kaunda, while speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the South South Office of his, Children of Africa Foundation, in Asaba on Monday, observed that the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa could only be won through concerted and collective efforts from governments and organizations in the contingent.

He reasoned that just as it took collective actions to free the continent from the shackles of colonialism, the war against the dreaded disease would also require similar posture, stressing, "Only one country cannot do it."

Dr. Kaunda lamented that Nigeria, which had a comparative advantage over many nations of the world in food production before the discovery of oil, had abandoned agriculture, thereby leaving hunger and poverty in Africa.

He therefore pleaded with the leadership of the country to go back to its root by paying greater attention to food production while still engaging in oil exploration, exploitation and exportation.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on his part commended the sage for his dogged fight against the deadly HIV/AIDS, pleading with persons in positions of leadership to borrow a leaf from him.

Dr. Uduaghan, represented by his deputy, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN), while commissioning the Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, commended Kaunda for his dogged fight against the dreaded disease. "Your (Kaunda's) sacrifices for the emancipation of Africans from the shackles of colonialism continue to inspire us. But your current campaign against the deadly HIV/AIDS virus is even greater challenge to those of us who are at leadership positions."

He described Kaunda’s action as a major boost to the efforts of the state government in the crusade against AIDS, adding, “it is also an interesting development as my administration is also focusing attention on children from when they are in the womb till weeks after their delivery.

"We are doing this through our Free Health Programme for pregnant women. Within the next few months, we will be flagging off our Free Health Programme for Children from five years and below. This explains why, your foundation’s programme sits well with our focus on the health of children including their mothers," he added.