The Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation – meet their young constituents

The Champions for an AIDS-free Generation recently visited South Africa and met with high-level political leadership, including President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President and Chairperson of SANAC, Cyril Ramaphosa, and leading members of the private sector.

Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation are a distinguished group of former presidents an AIDS-free generation. Individually and collectively, the Champions
rally and support regional leaders towards ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat.

The Champions transcend political partisanship to speak freely and independently about the issues that need solutions, both publically and behind the scenes. The Champions will continue to focus on ensuring that all children in Africa are born free from HIV and that children living with HIV have access to life-saving treatment. They also announced during their visit that they will add adolescents and HIV to their portfolio of work.

During their three-day meeting, the Champions met a group of six HIV-positive mothers and their HIV-negative children, four of whom are Mentor Mothers with Mothers2Mothers in South Africa – Nonhlanhla and Owami (3); Vuyo and baby Amila (2 months); Velna and Titsetso (2) Patricia and Omphile (2), Lorraine and Sihle (8) and Koketso and Keabetswe (4). Being in the presence of these inspirational women and their beautiful children reminded the Champions of what they are advocating for!

“Women need strong partners like the Champions so they receive access to proper HIV counselling, treatment and prevention services.
Women living with HIV can avoid passing the virus on to their children if they get the support they need.” Lorraine Mashishi

Festus Mogae, Former President of Botswana and Chairperson of the Champions, with Owami Hlapolosa (3) “The Champions are determined to keep HIV high on the continental agenda. We will leave no one behind and we will not rest until Africa has reached the goal of an AIDS-free generation.”	Joyce Banda, Former President of Malawi, with Keabetswe (3) “Today, we come together as a strengthened group of Champions to reaffirm our commitment to ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to ensuring that mothers and children already living with HIV stay healthy. I am proud to be involved in the Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation.”
From left to right: (First row) Speciosa Wandira-Kasibwe and Sihle, Joaquim A. Chissano and Omphile, Kenneth D. Kaunda, Festus Mogae and Owami, Joyce Banda and Keabetswe, Kgalema Mothlanthe, Benjamin Mkapa and Alpha Oumar Konare (Second row): Vuyo Mbangelwa with baby Amila, Nonhlanhla Hlapolosa, Lorraine Mashishi, Koketso Mokhetoa, Patricia Sithole and Velna Malobola with Tisetso