Dominique Ouattara excellence award

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very happy to be with you today for a subject that is dear to our hearts, namely the fight against AIDS, on the occasion of the First Edition of the Dominique Ouattara Excellence Award, for the elimination of Mother to Child HIV transmission.

I would like first of all, to welcome the presence of Prime Minister, Daniel Kablan Duncan who is at our side, to celebrate excellence in work, a value which you advocate with my beloved husband President Alassane Ouattara . And I want to thank you sincerely for that.

My greetings also extend to Madam Grand Chancellor Henriette Dagri DIABATE, and to my sister Madam First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mrs. Sarah SAKOH; and Mr. First Deputy Chairman of the Economic and Social Council.

I also thank, Mr. Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibé, whom by friendship for us, has made the trip from Geneva to be here at this awards ceremony. Michel thank you for your welcome presence.

I would also like to commend, our brothers and sisters, Ministers and wives of Ministers who came to support us in this action against HIV and AIDS in Côte d’Ivoire.

My final thanks extend to Mr. the Distinguished Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, to all managers and health personnel, as well as all the personalities that enhance by their presence this ceremony today.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Guests,

The fight against HIV-AIDS is everyone’s business, your massive mobilization in this room this afternoon is its tangible proof.

When Mrs. the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene introduced me her project to create an award bearing my name, to reward the players in the fight against HIV-AIDS, I was very moved, and I accepted it without hesitation.

Indeed, Mr. Deputy Secretary General of the UN, Dear Michel, you have elevated me as Special Ambassador for UNAIDS for the elimination of mother to child transmission and the promotion of Pediatric HIV treatment.

It is a title I wear with pride, and it thus was important for me to help motivate actors in the fight against HIV and to involve myself more by rewarding the work already achieved.

Particularly attentive to the mother-child couple, I also wished to honor all those who work daily, for the survival of the Mother and Child, facing the HIV epidemic in our country.

I would thus like to commend the initiative of Mrs. The Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, who spares no effort in mobilizing stakeholders and the professionals in the field, in order to eliminate the Mother-to-Child HIV transmission. Congratulations Raymonde for the great work you do every day as head of your teams.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like at this stage of my remarks, to thank all the partners engaged with us in the fight against HIV-AIDS, particularly His Excellency the Ambassador of the United States of America in Côte d’Ivoire.

Excellency, thank you for the important moral, financial and material support that you bring to Côte d’Ivoire, through the Fund of your Government in the fight against AIDS. I congratulate you and encourage you to persevere in this noble struggle we lead together, by strengthening your support in the provision nationwide, in pediatric treatment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Guests,

The elimination of the HIV-AIDS in the world, necessarily requires the involvement of all of us.

Thus, as late as last week, I have responded positively to the invitation of my sister the First Lady of Ghana, Chairperson of the Organization of African First Ladies against AIDS, to launch the continental campaign “All in.”

This prevention and awareness-raising campaign aims to end the HIV epidemic among adolescents, a segment of the population particularly affected by the epidemic on our continent.

In this same objective, the “Dominique Ouattara” Excellence Award for the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission Of HIV was set up to be awarded to health districts, NGOs and community advisers, in order to highlight the actors’ efforts in field of health, and reward them in the fight against HIV in Côte d’Ivoire.

Dear Winners

It is with great pride that we proceeded to the presentation of these awards, which are the consecration of the excellent work you have done so far.

I congratulate you and encourage you to continue on this path you have chosen.

I also wish that through you, all the other players feel honored and involved, and strengthen their commitment to the cause we stand for.

I remain convinced that with this distinction to be awarded each year, the key players in the fight to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child will still mobilize themselves more for the achievement of this noble goal.

I reiterate once again to you my congratulations.

Thank you.