The organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) will on Monday, July 2, 2007 set the tone for the African Union Summit when they meet at the Parliament House to discuss issues on HIV/AIDS and its effects on the continent. Ghana’s first lady, H.E Theresa Kufuor will play host to about 40 of her colleagues who are expected to follow up on their discussions held last year during their 4th Ordinary General Assembly in Banjul in July 2006. The President of OAFLA, H.E Madam Maureen Mwanawasa and the Vice, H.E Madam Azeb Mesfin will be present. So far all the regional executives of the association are expected to take part in the meeting and also hear presentations from the UNICEF and World Bank Representatives and the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs. The Ghana AIDS Commission, Mother and Child Foundation and the Maternity Protection Convention Focal Point Person for Africa will also make presentations to the First Ladies to guide their deliberations. OAFLA was formed in 2002 when 37 African First Ladies came together to give AIDS a compassionate, mother's face and contribute to ongoing efforts to fight the epidemic on our continent. The members of OAFLA, currently 40 First Ladies, are committed to using their combined strength and advocacy to lessen the suffering of affected African families and communities. The First Ladies have been involved in a joint prevention campaign called "Treat Every Child as Your Own". The Campaign was developed by OAFLA Executive Secretariat using a participatory approach including the members of OAFLA and their Technical Advisors and launched on September 15, 2005 in New York at an event in which the First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Laura Bush and other dignitaries participated. The "Treat Every Child as Your Own" campaign is derived from OAFLA's Five Year Strategic Plan, the ultimate goal of which is no new infections among youth. By using mass media and linking with appropriate programmes across Africa, the campaign will call on every adult to rekindle the value of conscience and to mend the social fabric that should be protecting children. The campaign also will mobilise local and international partners around parallel services and programmes that provide support to vunerable familie's in order to promote protective environments. The First Ladies' campaign message of 'Treat Every Child as Your Own" reminds all adults that children are everyone's responsibility. Children need adults they can trust, not just parents, to guide them toward a healthy future. The First Ladies are launching this campaign to rebuild society's sense of collective responsibility for child welfare, including making sure homes, school and communities are all protective environments. Source: The Ghanaian Times