UCC seminar to focus on AIDS crisis

IRISH and African experts will examine development issues and the AIDS crisis in Africa as part of a major conference in Cork which starts today.

The UN last year estimated there were 25.8 million people with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. It reported 2.4m AIDS-related deaths and 3.2m new HIV infections in the region a year.

The two-day conference, organised as part of the SMA missions’ 150th anniversary celebrations, will focus on the reasons for the lack of development in Africa since World War II.

It is taking place in conjunction with the Centre for Sustainable Livelihoods at UCC.

An SMA spokesman said: “There will be a particular focus on the role that missionaries have played in development. The objective is to learn from our histories and suggest future direction for development and mission in a continuously changing context.”

The conference, entitled 150 Years of SMA Solidarity with Africa, starts today at 2pm. A keynote address will be given by Professor August B Temu from Kenya and Ronan Murphy, director-general of Irish Aid.

Speakers in the human rights and development session will include Justin Kilcullen of Trócaire, Joshua Castellino from the Irish Centre for Human Rights and Stephen Onakuse from UCC’s Centre for Sustainable Living.

The focus tomorrow will be on HIV/AIDS issues in a session chaired by Professor Ivan Perry.

Speakers will include Fr Sean Healy, Fine Gael’s Joan Burton and E Priscilla Jana, Ambassador of South Africa.

The afternoon will focus on the role of missionaries and their contribution to development.

Speakers will include Fr James Good and Michael McCabe, Concern’s Tom Arnold and Professor Agnes Mwang’ombe of the University of Nairobi.

The fee is €50. It takes place in room G10, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex.

* Details: Nora Hennessy, UCC on 021-4902114.