Our African traditions cry out against such open discussion, but we must change. We are mobilising the best in Africa. All of Africa's remarkably resilient capacity is being mobilised for prevention. Africans across the political spectrum are united as never before. But Africa's proven ability to overcome adversity will be tremendously taxed.
International solidarity is therefore an imperative.
We need cheap drugs and emergency assistance to fund HIV programmes. A united, high level and sustained global effort is needed. And at Abuja, Africa's leadership will ask the global community to join them in taking the necessary steps to make it possible to overcome this plague.