You would have all heard about our President’s recent trip to New York for the UN high level meeting on HIV/AIDS. Apart from a few pictures with President Obama, the Nigerian press has been largely silent on the crux of the matter, the reason for the trip, and the commitments our president made on our behalf. Addressing the press at United Nations (UN) headquarters following his speech at the General Assembly, Jonathan reminded us that three million Nigerians are currently infected with HIV (after South Africa, Nigeria has the most cases in Africa) adding that his Government is “totally committed to reducing this number.” Contributing to the open debate on the impact of the disease, the President stressed that the “time is ripe for a final solution” to the 30-year-old pandemic.
On our behalf, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan signed up to 105 Commitments on HIV/AIDS to be delivered by 2015 – coincidentally the year his current term comes to an end.
We urge you to download these from here and keep them. In 2015, and every year between now and then, we will read them and ask our president how he is doing. As the President himself has said….this era cannot be business as usual. So, it is up to us to hold him accountable for the promises he makes.
A few of the commitments are summarised here – some tough ones!
All the commitments available here.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has…Margaret Mead