This week on Africa Now! We’re talking about Tuberculosis. It’s a disease that many in wealthy countries think of as a disease of the past. Indeed, the world has known how to cure TB for half a century. Yet on the continent of Africa, TB kills millions who cannot access the basic $20 treatment that can cure the disease. And, in Sub-Saharan Africa the TB crisis is combining with the AIDS pandemic—as the two diseases fuel eachother in a deadly spiral of co-infection.
Next week leaders from around the world will be meeting at the United Nations to address, for the first time, the combined TB and HIV pandemics in a high level forum. Will the world begin to turn the corner on TB and HIV? Can global leaders really marshal the funding and the programs needed? Can we tackle TB without also tackling the driving force of poverty? We’ll ask those questions and more this week on Africa Now!
Joining us Joining us to talk about this issue is Winstone Zulu—a TB and HIV activist from Zambia who is in the US on a speaking tour on his way to the first ever “UN Global Leaders Forum on TB/HIV” in New York. Winstone joins us by phone from Los Angeles.
ALSO, the DC Caribbean Filmfest 2008—we’ll be joined by Mwiza Munthali of Transafrica forum to talk about this event that starts this weekend
Tonight, in honor of International Women’s Month we devote our program to a look at the role and status of women in Africa. Joining us will be:
Emily Joy Sikazwe. Emily is the Executive Director of Women for Change a Zambian gender focused NGO working with communities to contribute towards sustainable human development. Though an Agronomist by profession, Emily has always had a passion for social justice, and in 2000, the American Biographical Institute recognized Emily’s overall accomplishments and contribution to society by bestowing on her the Woman of the Year 2000 award. She is in the U.S . as a delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Anyango Reggy, a Kenyan-American Ph.D student at Howard University’s African Studies Department where she is exploring the role of women in post-genocide Rwanda. In addition, Anyango is the Africa Youth Leadership Associate for the American Friends Service Committee; there her work is focused on educating youth to work toward a new vision for Africa that promotes peace, African unity, and sustainable development. Through her work she has helped train US and African youth in leadership, advocacy, and activism skills in training sessions in East, Central and Southern Africa.
Muadi Mukenge works with the Global Fund for Women where she is the Program Officer for Africa. Muadi has worked as a reporter/researcher for US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, holds a Master’s Degree in African Studies from UCLA and is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Muadi also volunteers with organizations focused on African immigrant rights, African development and human rights, and foreign policy toward Africa.
Emily Joy Sikazwe. Emily is the 