Source: New Era
Namibia's First Lady, Penehupifo Pohamba, says she wants to focus on advocacy for good partnerships and fund raising as President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Windhoek, the First Lady said she would do her best to continue to uphold and defend the Constitution of OAFLA, its goals, as well as its strategic plans and programmes.

"During the past eight years or so, OAFLA was governed by a presidency and secretariat rotating among member countries every two years, starting with Gabon, Rwanda, Zambia, Ethiopia and now Namibia."

Lady Pohamba said OAFLA, being a non-profit Organisation, needs stakeholders, as well as financial and operational resources in order to achieve its objectives.

"I will have to work hard to maintain the existing partnerships and mobilise new ones,'' said the First Lady, a trained nurse by profession.

She served as one of the vice-presidents of OAFLA from 2006 to 2008.

She is therefore not a stranger to the management positions of the organisation.
"With this experience, I will do my best to continue to uphold and defend the Constitution of OAFLA, its goals, as well as its strategic plans and programmes."
She noted that at the General Assembly meeting held in February 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a decision was taken to have a permanent secretariat.

"I have noted that the process of establishing the Permanent Secretariat and institutionalising OAFLA is almost complete and this will probably be my biggest challenge. The Executive Director and other staff members of the secretariat are not yet recruited. This leaves the President to work without the much-needed support. I am thus calling for the support of my predecessor, Madame Azeb Musfin, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, and all member states to intensify our campaign against HIV/AIDS in Africa and the world,'' she said.

Pohamba was elected during the General Assembly on 29 June this year in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Both OAFLA's activities and the national programmes that Pohamba is engaged in are health related.

Madam Pohamba said she needs people with a health background and experience in those positions.

Some of her primary aims are to cultivate a spirit of solidarity and the exchange of experiences among African First Ladies; Increasing the capacity of the First Ladies and that of women leaders in order to advocate for effective solutions to respond to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Other aims are to develop partnerships with international development partners, regional and local stakeholders to raise awareness and mobilise resources to support HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs.

OAFLA is the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS established in Geneva by 37African First Ladies in 2002. 

• Namibia