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Last week, I attended the first African First Ladies' Leadership Health Summit in Los Angeles, California where over 400 participants from the private sector, public sector and Hollywood came together to discuss maternal health and child survival, HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, and girl's education. The event was hosted by African Synergy and US Doctors for Africa.
To say it was impressive is an understatement. For two days, we sat through panels, luncheons, and in-depth breakout sessions that ended with an extravagant evening gala and a sense of accomplishment with actionable goals and pledges for new commitments. For the first time, a summit was held focusing on the role of the First Ladies and the international community towards improving Africa's development. Various high-profile speakers delivered remarks, including the First Ladies, as well as Melanne Verveer, the US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International, actress and activist Maria Bello, and the First Lady of California Maria Shriver.
This historic gathering went above and beyond the expectations of many with a balanced mix of policy expertise, pomp and circumstance, and constructive engagement on serious issues. It was an important first step towards the kind of global exchange that is needed. What most impressed me was the passion and conviction that each First Lady spoke with. One by one, they introduced their own country's policies and new approaches to improve women's health, such as Mozambique's drafting of gender equity laws and Nigeria's "Mama Kit".
It's even more important, however, that this dialogue be expanded to include more African voices, particularly from civil society and the diaspora in future exchanges. To improve the health and well-being of women and girls in Africa, all stakeholders must be at the same table, to the same summit, with the same opportunity to participate in these discussions. Civil society's role in peace and development cannot be overemphasized. It is my hope that at the next African First Ladies Leadership Health Summit, the First Ladies will have the opportunity to meet with more African civil society organizations from Africa and the diaspora and engage with them on the most critical issues affecting their beloved Africa.
To view more pictures from the Summit, click below: African First Ladies Health Summit April 2009
Semhar Araia is the Founder and Executive Director of the Diaspora African Women's Network and resides in Washington, DC.
This historic gathering went above and beyond the expectations of many with a balanced mix of policy expertise, pomp and circumstance, and constructive engagement on serious issues. It was an important first step towards the kind of global exchange that is needed. What most impressed me was the passion and conviction that each First Lady spoke with. One by one, they introduced their own country's policies and new approaches to improve women's health, such as Mozambique's drafting of gender equity laws and Nigeria's "Mama Kit".
It's even more important, however, that this dialogue be expanded to include more African voices, particularly from civil society and the diaspora in future exchanges. To improve the health and well-being of women and girls in Africa, all stakeholders must be at the same table, to the same summit, with the same opportunity to participate in these discussions. Civil society's role in peace and development cannot be overemphasized. It is my hope that at the next African First Ladies Leadership Health Summit, the First Ladies will have the opportunity to meet with more African civil society organizations from Africa and the diaspora and engage with them on the most critical issues affecting their beloved Africa.
To view more pictures from the Summit, click below: African First Ladies Health Summit April 2009
Semhar Araia is the Founder and Executive Director of the Diaspora African Women's Network and resides in Washington, DC.
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