At a ceremony in Abidjan, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé has honoured the First Lady of Côte d’Ivoire, Dominique Ouattara, for her humanitarian work and her commitment to improving access to paediatric treatment for children living with HIV.
“Ms. Ouattara’s personal involvement is the clearest sign of her commitment to the most disadvantaged and of her interest in the health of mothers and their children, not only in Côte d’Ivoire but in the whole of Africa,” said Mr Sidibé.
Ms Ouattara is to become a Special Advocate for UNAIDS, helping to raise awareness for programmes aimed at preventing new HIV infections among children and advocating for women and children living with HIV to access antiretroviral therapy.
“This distinction will be a catalyst for my commitment to the elimination of AIDS. From now on, every action to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Côte d’Ivoire, in Africa and in the world will find a favourable echo in me. I am fully engaged in this fight and I will remain committed until we reach an AIDS-free generation,” said Ms Ouattara.
Ms Ouattara has been involved in humanitarian issues for many years. In 1998, she created the Children of Africa Foundation, which has supported several projects in Côte d’Ivoire, including the construction of a school and a centre for unaccompanied children as well as the promotion of child immunization campaigns.
