A Lecture by Dr. Debrework Zewdie, Director of the Global HIV/AIDS Program
at The World Bank Group
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
12:30 - 2:00**
Snyder Auditorium
Harvard School of Public Health

The Africa Health Forum and HAI hosted a lecture by Dr. Debrework Zewdie on Wednesday, February 23, 2005. Snyder auditorium at the Harvard School of Public Health was well attended by students wanting to learn more about how they could make an impact on the crisis of AIDS in Africa.

In her lecture entitled “AIDS in Africa: Actionable Solutions,” Dr. Zewdie spoke about the physical and economic impact of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, which she has seen in her role as the director of the Global HIV/AIDS Program for the World Bank Group. She presented the World Bank’s goals for streamlining the funding and management of AIDS programs in African countries to make a more significant impact on the epidemic.

These goals were encapsulated in the “Three Ones”:
•One agreed AIDS action framework that provides the basis for coordinating the work of all partners; NOT mere strategic plans
•One national AIDS authority, with a broad-based multisectoral mandate; NOT about only government control
•One agreed country-level monitoring and evaluation system; NOT merely reporting, but accountability

Dr. Zewdie also emphasized the need for good governance on the part of African countries to successfully address the epidemic.

After the lecture, Dr. Zewdie met with a small group of HSPH students, faculty and staff for a roundtable discussion on current AIDS issues in Africa. The students, many of whom were from Africa, asked Dr. Zewdie for examples of ways that they could personally make an impact on AIDS in their home countries. Dr. Zewdie encouraged them not to continue to promote awareness and activism – actions that would make a difference.

Photos of AIDS in Africa: Actionable Solutions
Click the thumbnails below to enlarge