Bamako, Mali - A workshop about HIV/AIDS took place at the mayor's hall in Banankabougou on May 15. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together representatives of government and non-governmental organizations as well as academic experts and practitioners from each region in Mali to discuss the impact of HIV/AIDS on families in the nation, to consider how families and communities are coping with the disease, and to contribute to the development of a strategic policy framework to assist governments to strengthen the capacity of families and family networks to cope. To compare experiences across region can be helpful.
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There were 40 participants, including Ambassadors for Peace, three government representatives, and seven couples. The PowerPoint presentation about the impact of HIV/AIDS encouraged parents to establish model families and teach their children to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. The discussion afterwards brought out the fact that many families with large children are poor and have few resources for raising their children, in particular paying for the education of their daughters.
To read more about UPF observances of the International Day of Families 2012, click here.