African first ladies on Monday vowed to further intensify efforts in the campaign against HIV/ AIDS, especially to the elimination of the mother to child transmission of HIV (eMTCT).

The first ladies held their 11th extraordinary assembly of the organization of African Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) at the new African Union (AU) Conference Center on the sideline of the 19th AUSmmit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital.

In her opening address, Penehupifo Pohamba, first lady of Namibia, called for strengthening of African ladies' role towards the elimination of new HIV infection among children by 2015.

Pohamba who is also president of OAFLA stressed on the need to put more energy to eMTCT which she said is one of the challenges in the campaign against HIV/AIDS.

The Namibian first lady also made a clarion call to all member countries to jointly launch continental PMTCT campaign.

"PMTCT is an unfailing vehicle that will take us to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission and to zero new HIV infection generations," she said.

Pohamba also stated that her organization would release a total of 250, 000 US dollars, about 50,000 dollars to each of the five African regions to support the implementation of the continental PMTCT campaign.

The countries to be assisted by the funds would be identified by vice presidents in the regions, she noted.

She also thanked the UNAIDS for providing additional fund of 50, 000 dollars for the same purpose.

Indicating that these funds are supplementary, the president encouraged the countries to aggressively mobilize funds and any other support in kind at national, regional, and continental levels.

She also called on the first ladies to give full support to the reviewing of the agenda of their organization in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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