UCLA Center for International Medicine - UCLA Center for International Medicine

CIM supports historic African First Ladies Health Summit hosted by USDFA

Story by Nicole Durden
Los Angeles; April 28, 2009

Los Angeles, CA.: California First Lady Maria Shriver speaks during the summit. Leadership for Health African First Ladies Health Summit was held at the Skirball Cultural Center, Monday April 20, 2009. Twelve African First Ladies joined together with delegations and celebrities to address health issues in each of the First Ladies countries. Photo by Stephen Osman

Los Angeles, CA.: California First Lady Maria Shriver speaks during the summit. Leadership for Health African First Ladies Health Summit was held at the Skirball Cultural Center, Monday April 20, 2009. Twelve African First Ladies joined together with delegations and celebrities to address health issues in each of the First Ladies countries. Photo by Stephen Osman

First ladies from 13 African countries joined together at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on April 20 and 21, 2009 to discuss issues facing women and girls in their respective countries. The first ladies and their delegations spent two days meeting with summit organizers, US Doctors for Africa (USDFA) and African Synergy for AIDS and Suffering, as well as numerous non-profit organizations, business leaders, and policy experts. During panel sessions and private meetings, the First Ladies identified immediate needs in their countries including health care worker training, capacity building in maternal health clinics, improved HIV treatments, and care for those affected by malaria.

Los Angeles, CA.: Sarah Brown, wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks on health issues on the African continent. Leadership for Health African First Ladies Health Summit was held at the Skirball Cultural Center, Tuesday April 21, 2009. Twelve African First Ladies joined together with delegations and experts to address health issues in each of the First Ladies countries. Photo by Stephen Osman.

Notable appearances included a welcoming statement from the first lady of California, Maria Shriver, as well as a keynote address from Mrs. Sarah Brown, the wife of UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

A number of celebrities were on hand for the first day of the summit including Sharon Stone, Cicely Tyson, Maria Bello, Diane Lane, Joely Fisher, Camryn Manheim, Robin Wright-Penn, and Amy Brenneman. The two-day summit concluded with an evening gala at the Beverly Hilton, which honored the first ladies and their ongoing work. At the close of the summit the First Ladies signed a Summit Declaration, which recognized the unique role that First Ladies have in their communities and the value of working together in partnership with USDFA and summit partners.

Los Angeles, CA.: Actress Sharon Stone, left, greets the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Sia Nyama Koroma. Leadership for Health African First Ladies Health Summit was held at the Skirball Cultural Center, Tuesday April 21, 2009. Thirteen African First Ladies joined together with delegations and experts to address health issues in each of the First Ladies countries. Photo by Stephen Osman.

Los Angeles, CA.: Actress Sharon Stone, left, greets the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Sia Nyama Koroma. Leadership for Health African First Ladies Health Summit was held at the Skirball Cultural Center, Tuesday April 21, 2009. Thirteen African First Ladies joined together with delegations and experts to address health issues in each of the First Ladies countries. Photo by Stephen Osman.

Summit partners included the UCLA Center for International Medicine, RAND, General Electric, ONE, Procter & Gamble, ExxonMobil, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Vital Voices Global Partnership, White Ribbon Alliance, WHO, Dalberg, Chevron, Global Health Council, Pfizer, Women Deliver, Africare, AllAfrica.com, Qiagen, and Until There’s a Cure.

The UCLA Center for International Medicine is proud to have been a partner of this historic event and is looking forward to working together with USDFA and the First Ladies on future initiatives.

To view the photo and video gallery from the summit, please click here.

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