Soure: The Herald
OPINION
In the last decade, Africa is the second-fastest growing region in the world. There is great reason to be excited about Africa's economic future. Strong economies rely on stable, well-paying jobs and rising living standards that make recovery fuller and faster.
As Africa emerges from the global financial crisis, it faces a new challenge for the years ahead: how do we make growth more inclusive to benefit all members of society?
Sustainable growth, more jobs, higher wages, and better futures are all possible for more Africans.
But it is only possible with the full and equal participation of Africa's men and women.
The new African labour force is young and growing.
In the next 10 years, Africa's labour force is expected to expand by 122 million.
If in that 122 million, both men and women can participate as equals in the economy, Africa will enjoy more talent, creativity and growth than ever before.
By unleashing the full economic potential of women, Africa can boost productivity and growth, create more jobs and opportunities and improve the lives of all Africans.
The goal of reaching the world's top 20 economies by 2020 is achievable if Africa takes advantage of both halves of society.
We are all aware of the role that women play as innovators and entrepreneurs in Africa, especially as heads of small and medium-sized businesses.
We know that women own one quarter of such businesses in sub-Saharan Africa.
We know that women shoulder the burden of caring for children and running the household.
We know that more women than men are working in jobs that pay little and offer no security.
And we know that women form the majority of people living in poverty.
Overall, women face barriers to participating fully in the economy: many women lack the right to own or inherit land, their access to bank loans is limited, and discrimination prevents women from gaining equal footing with men in the workforce.
This isn't just holding back women. It is holding back their families, their communities, and their countries.
Studies show that closing the gap between male and female employment rates can boost GDP.
And not surprisingly, countries--and companies -- with greater gender equality register the highest performance and growth.
Women reinvest up to 90 percent of their income into their children and families. This multiplier effect results in better health, better education, and improved well-being for families and future generations.
Leaders in the private sector can make a real difference. You can help to remove the barriers to women's participation.
You can lead by example and promote women based on merit to management positions.
You can ensure equal pay and benefits to all women and men employees, including more flexible work options.
You can invest in training and capacity-building for women employees to advance within the company. And you can create a safe environment and a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of violence in the workplace.
These are the some of the key goals of the Women's Empowerment Principles, practical steps based on input from businesses around the world and spearheaded by UN Women the UN Global Compact. So far some companies in Africa have signed on.
Women leaders such as Ms. Oputu, as the first woman Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, set the example, and are role models for young women in Africa to aim high for their futures.
The voices of women leaders carry influence to call for industry-wide standards for gender equality.
UN Women believes strongly in a comprehensive approach to women's economic empowerment that engages many sectors.
We can make a far greater impact when we work together for a common cause.
There is a new image of the young woman in the 21st century: She is well-educated, prepared to take on a steady job with fair pay.
She is free to make important decisions, like when and whom she marries, and when and how many children she has. And she's active in her community and in public life.
This is the image of half the young labour force to promote in Africa, and in all of Africa: women and girls who are counting on a future of economic opportunity, ready to keep Africa growing and moving forward.
We look forward to a future in Africa with strong, stable and inclusive economic growth to lift up all its people and rise to the top of the world's economies. The top 20 by 2020 is within reach: with 50:50 rights, opportunities, and participation for men and women in Africa.
The Writer is First Executive Director at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Source: IRIN
BRAZZAVILLE, 18 January 2013 (PlusNews) - The HIV infection rate has declined among pregnant women in the Republic of Congo from 3.4 percent in 2009 to 2.8 percent in 2012, according to a study by the Ministry of Health, which said it had taken specific action to help this section of the population.
"This significant decrease is due to many innovative and effective actions: screening using a mobile unit, as well as HIV/AIDS fairs throughout Congo to help inform young people about their vulnerability," said Health Minister François Ibovi.
"We have been urging pregnant women to get tested - and they are doing so. This allows them to receive treatment if they are HIV-positive, and their newborn children are supported in terms of antiretrovirals (ARVs),” Franck Marie Puruehnce, executive secretary of the National Council for Combating HIV/AIDS (CNLS), told IRIN.
"HIV infection among pregnant women is continuing to fall," she said, adding that despite this decline, the epidemic is becoming more feminine-specific “due to the low purchasing power of women, who are sometimes unable to avoid risky sexual encounters".
According to Puruehnce, protection of mother-to-child transmission services are available in health centres throughout the country.
Officially, HIV/AIDS prevalence in Congo is 3.2 percent, against 4.2 percent in 2003. The country (population 3.6 million) has 83,000 patients; women are twice as affected as men.
HIV rates vary according to different sections of the population. They are 7.5 percent among sex workers and 26 percent among homosexuals.
For Michel Bitemo, monitoring, evaluation and strategic information adviser at the UNAIDS office in Brazzaville, "the best protection against AIDS is knowing your status…
"We must move towards universal knowledge of HIV infection," he advised, regretting the fact that only 12 percent of people knew their HIV status.
Funding key
According to Michel Bitemo, "Congo can only maintain or improve results if financial resources are constantly increased."
"If funding falls, we will not have better, but worse, results. The HIV/AIDS response is 50 percent government-funded which is a good thing because in other countries it is below 50 percent, "said Bitemo.
At the last session of the National Council for the Fight against AIDS, the authorities recommended setting up a response fund.
"This fund will be funded by the government and industries such as oil, timber and mining... as well as international partners such as the World Bank and the Global Fund [to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis]," said Puruehnce.
"We want to reorganize the financing of the response to ensure no target is missed," she added.
Healthy mother, healthy baby