Kate R. writes: From October 24 to 27 of this year I was privileged to attend the 2023 International Grandmothers Gathering. I wanted to know: how are our African sisters doing? Where are they in the HIV/Aids battle? And how are they coming on achieving the rights they have been denied for so long?
We received an overwhelmingly positive answer from Mama Darlina of South Africa on the first morning as she triumphantly declared, “WE HAVE WON….BUT THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO DO” Over the next three days we heard from Grannies and community leaders from the 11 countries that held simultaneous gatherings in sub-Saharan Africa. A few were present with us in Winnipeg, many more spoke to us on Zoom. The news was so encouraging. HIV and AIDS transmission is down by 80% since the beginning of the Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. This is largely due to national governments finally supplying free anti-retroviral drugs. The work still to be done consists of improving distribution to rural areas, strengthening health networks and hospital infrastructure, and breaking through the barriers of racism and gender inequality so that the ARV’S are available for all.
Over 100 Canadian grandmothers were inspired through stories of community leadership in Africa, talks by the Foundation staff, our own round table discussions and the opportunity to contribute to a Grandmothers Statement reflecting our wishes for and commitments to the Grandmothers of Africa.
You can read the keynote address from Meg French, Executive Director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation here.
