The First Lady was speaking during the Organisation of African First Ladies’ (OAFLA) high level meet the margins of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly, in New York.
Under the topic ‘Implementing the AU roadmap to harness the demographic dividend in Africa: Ending AIDS by 2030’, Jeannette Kagame reminded officials that they are called to reflect upon how to stay the course with clearly set objectives under the Sustainable Development Goals, and African Union roadmap, to fully eradicate HIV/AIDS.
“Indeed, from primarily affecting adults in great numbers, and leaving millions of orphans in its earlier years, AIDS is now robbing our continent of a powerful generation of young men and women, meant to be the driving force of its societies,” she said.
“Our ability to harness the demographic dividend of our continent heavily relies on the health, and wellbeing of our young people, and so we must strengthen all the actors of our health system, to realise the goal of ‘Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free’ by the year 2020” she added.
She said that in Rwanda a lot has been done in health sector, but added that “as a nation that believes in the lasting impact of empowering the youth, we cannot afford to become complacent. So we continue to reinforce these concerted efforts between all stakeholders of our healthcare chain”.
She urged all nations to stay firmly grounded in their commitment to give youth a strong health system and not hinder their abilities, to go beyond great expectations.
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