Malawi First Lady appointed VP for African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS

Malawi’s First Lady, Madam Gertrude Mutharika has been elected Vice President of the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA).

Madam Mutharika was elected on Sunday during OAFLA conference held on the sidelines of the 25thOrdinary Summit of the African Union (AU) currently underway at Sandton International Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The First Lady contested on the position after being chosen by the Southern African sub-region of OAFLA alongside Zambian First Lady to be on the OAFLA main steering committee.

The Steering Committee is the organ of OAFLA that is responsible for the coordination of the organisation’s activities between General Assemblies.

Among other things the Steering Committee is responsible for, implementing the decisions of the General Assembly, submitting recommendations or proposals to the General Assembly and preparing the Agenda of the General Assembly.

The OAFLA Presidency went to Ghanian First Lady Lordinah Mahama.

Mutharika and Mahama replace Madam Hinda Deby and Jeannette Kagame of Chad and Rwanda who were President and Vice President respectively.

The Malawi First Lady and Madam Mahama, will officially be handed over the positions at the forth coming Health Financing meeting scheduled to take place in Addisababa,  Ethiopia in July this year.

OAFLA is a coalition of 40 African First Ladies who have joined forces to act as a voice for the voiceless in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The First Ladies of OAFLA are committed to using their capacities to improve the lives of vulnerable families through advocacy, social and resource mobilisation.

Mutharika officially joined OAFLA in January this year.