Ontario Hospitals & Partners Answering Stephen Lewis Challenge To Fight HIV/AIDS Pandemic In Sub-Saharan Africa
Ontario Hospital Association
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Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L1
Tel: (416) 205-1345 Fax: (416) 205-1360
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Wednesday, July 14, 2004
TORONTO – As the XV International AIDS Conference takes place in Thailand, Ontario hospitals and a group of healthcare partners announced that they are answering Stephen Lewis's challenge to help in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) announced today.
"A recent report from the UN estimates that 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV/AIDS," said OHA President and CEO Hilary Short. "This is a humanitarian crisis and we are answering the challenge to help alleviate suffering and prevent the further spread of this devastating disease."
Last Autumn, Stephen Lewis, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, challenged Ontario hospitals to play a leadership role in treating and preventing this disease. This challenge triggered widespread interest and the creation of a multi-stakeholder Task Force to organize and implement this initiative. Based on Mr. Lewis's recommendations, a three-person fact-finding delegation is scheduled to visit the Kingdom of Lesotho in early August to understand where hospitals and their partners can begin and have the greatest impact.
"Twinning hospitals and supporting nurses, physicians and pharmacists who will go to Southern Africa to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS would be incredibly valuable," said Stephen Lewis. "Anything that can help people in this part of the world in their fight against the ravages of this pandemic is welcome."
The fact-finding delegation will include Hilary Short, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, Joan Lesmond, President of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and Director of Clinical Programs at the HIV/AIDS treatment hospice, Casey House, and Hume Martin, President and CEO of Rouge Valley Health System, one of Ontario's largest community hospitals.
The OHA is actively seeking government and broader stakeholder support for this initiative. Already, the RNAO and Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario (RPNAO) have thrown their support behind this initiative. A special fundraising event for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a separate initiative, is also being held in Toronto in November at OHA HealthAchieve2004, the OHA’s annual convention and exhibition.
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For further information:
Stefan Baranski, OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1305