Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Friday called on young Mozambicans to take the lead in the struggle against the lethal disease AIDS. Speaking at the opening session of a National Youth Meeting, Guebuza pointed out that the highest rates of HIV prevalence were to be found among young adults, and so it was in this age group that "we must continue to act resolutely, where we must be more aggressive than the virus, and faster than the spread of infection". The President declared that every Mozambican could do "more and better" in the fight against the epidemic. He urged his young audience to serve as an example for other young people, alerting them to the dangers of the disease, which is now regarded as a serious threat to national development. "We must multiply and diversify preventive actions in the schools, in the fields and pastures, on the fishing grounds and in offices, in our residential areas, in religious gatherings or in places of leisure", said Guebuza. "HIV/AIDS is not someone else's problem. It's a problem for each and every one of us".

The meeting is taking place under the slogan "For a healthy and responsible youth: Don't let hope die !". It has been organised jointly by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the National AIDS Council, and the National Youth Council, and about 500 young people from across the country are attending. Over the three day meeting, the participants will assess how the recommendations from the "Presidential Initiative in the Fight against AIDS" (launched by Guebuza himself in February 2006) have been implemented. Among the matters under discussion are how to prevent the disease, mitigation of the effects of AIDS, sexual and reproductive rights, stigma and discrimination, and the role of religion, culture and sport in the fight against the epidemic.



Guebuza stressed the importance of making sure that the messages used in the fight against AIDS are appropriate, in form and content, to Mozambican reality. When the Presidential Initiative was launched, he recalled, "we concluded that it is urgent and imperative to make Mozambican every aspect that can ensure that messages on HIV/AIDS are more effective, and will provoke the changes in behaviour we all desire". This strategy would involve the greater use of African languages, rather than relying on the official language, Portuguese, and would also involve influential local figures in the campaign at grass roots level.