SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY MARGARET KENYATTA,

THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

DURING THE OPENING OF THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE ON PEER EDUCATION, SEXUALITY, HIV
AND AIDS ON 15TH UNE, 2016 AT KENYATTA
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, NAIROBI.

Adolescent Ambassadors, Partners,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a profound privilege to be opening this
important international conference.
I see this meeting as part of our collective
commitment to win a global war a war that has
claimed millions of casualties worldwide; A war
that has robbed children of parents and families of
loved ones; A war in which we have lost both
people and potential; in which we have lost the
diverse dreams and tremendous talent of millions.
I am thankful though, that since the discovery of
HIV in the 1980s, we are winning many battles:
Stereotypes and stigma have come down; medical
breakthroughs including the advent of ARVs
are allowing 50% of HIV positive people to live
more normal, healthy and productive lives and
ensuring that HIV women can have children,
Without passing on the virus.
Thanks to these developments, and thanks to the
work of organizations like NOPE, TASO in Uganda,
UN AIDS, PEPFAR, NACC and NASCOP, today fear
does not dominate our dialogue on HIV. We are
registering fewer and fewer casualties. Perhaps
most importantly, hope abounds.

Indeed, through the Beyond Zero campaign, I have

visited 42 counties in Kenya; and I have met and
interacted with many Kenyans living positively with
HIV.
While in Busia last week, I listened to a brave 18
year old school girl Francisca Achieng', who stood
before a crowd of thousands and narrated her story
- living with HIV. Just yesterday, Francisca lost her
physical battle with the disease, and is no longer
with us, but as true Ambassador, she won through
her public testimony of hope. Her spirit lives on.
Such examples are the very face of resilience; the
very testimony of hope triumphing over fear, and a
tribute to the tenacity of the human spirit. They
are part of our victory. They are part of the proof
that as a global community as soldiers standing
in solidarity against a common enemy Together,
we will win.
We have made a lot of progress in our thinking
about HIV, in empowering citizens living with HIV
and in our quest to eradicate HIV. But despite the
progress we have made, much remains to be done.
Despite the battles we have won, the war is not
over. It will not be over until we have zero new
infections, zero HIV related deaths and zero stigma
against HIV positive people.
Today, we have to fight that war on a new front -HIV is the single biggest killer of adolescents and
that, is a worrying reality -- Addressing it requires
rallying all the resources at our disposal.
We
need peer education.
We need to spread
information about HIV among at risk groups.
We
need to keep working to reduce the stigma that
still clings to this disease...

And we need to talk: about sex, about HIV, about

drugs, and about a whole host of issues where our
silence as adults and as a society, is killing our
youth and our children.
This is why I am so proud to be a part of this
7thInternational Conference on Peer Education,
Sexuality, HIV and AIDS and why I am so glad to
see so many young Ambassadors here dedicated
to dealing a decisive blow to HIV. I want to thank
all of you, and all the peer educators, community
health workers, and organizations present and
represented who are working so hard on the front
lines to make sure we win the war against HIV.
Today, we are closer to victory that ever. I am
convinced that if we keep working together, if we
soldier on, we will win this war.
With those few remarks, I am pleased to declare
the 7thInternational Conference on Peer Education,
Sexuality, HIV and AIDS, officially open.
Thank you.