Friends Africa currently provides Advocacy, Capacity Building & Education, Documentation and Technical Assistance to the following countries: Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa.
As Africans come together in unity to celebrate Africa Day today, we reflect on the progress we have made and the challenges that remain as we work toward achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). With only five years left until the 2015 deadline, dedicated resources and strong leadership from African nations are more important than ever. Over the past decade we have made great progress, but more needs to be done, especially in the area of health. In 2001, Africas heads of state signed the Abuja Declaration and committed to the eventual creation of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a public/private partnership and the largest multilateral financing institution in the fight against major causes of illness and mortality on our continent. Since then, The Global Fund has fostered stronger health systems in Africa, saved the lives of millions of women and children across the continent, strengthened economies of African countries through healthier workforces, and fostered partnerships between the public and private sectors. 2010 is a critical year as we strive to reach the MDG milestones for reducing childhood mortality, improving the lives of women and girls, and fighting infectious diseases. This year is also important for donor nations to pledge new resources to support Global Fund projects around the world. The African Union Summit this July is a valuable opportunity for African leaders to demonstrate our political and financial commitment to health, the Millennium Development Goals, and The Global Fund. We hope that the rest of the world will also pledge its continued and increasing support to The Global Fund. Investing in The Global Fund is an investment towards the achievement of the MDGs, improving the lives of millions, and strengthening Africa now and in the future. Ambassador Mahamat Adam Bechir Ambassador Sameh Shoukry Ambassador of Chad to the United States Ambassador of Egypt to the United States Co-Chairs of the Africa Day Commemoration in Washington, D.C.
