HIV/AIDS is often spread in West Africa along transportation/ migration routes.

"Cote d'Ivoire is one of 15 countries most affected by HIV in the world."

On Wednesday, July 18 Dr. Sarah Degnan Kambou will visit San Francisco to discuss her work to fight the spread of AIDS in Africa. Kambou is the Regional Coordinator for LifeLink, CARE'S cross-border HIV/AIDS prevention project in Africa. The program focuses on West Africa's large population of migrant workers.

She will appear at a breakfast hosted by the Schwab Foundation at 9:00 a.m. at the City Club of San Francisco (155 Sansome Street #950).

Kambou lives in Cote d'Ivoire, where 11 percent of the country's population suffers from HIV/AIDS, making it one of 15 countries most affected by HIV in the world. Cote d'Ivoire is the principal destination for seasonal migration within the sub- Saharan region. Migration often is a result of family obligations, displacement due to civil conflict, or seasonal work.

CARE developed the first health projects in the region to address mobility and AIDS. The organization works with local leaders to understand how HIV/AIDS affects their community and to develop a local action plan.

To address these issues, CARE operates information "kiosks" at taxi stands and bus stops frequented by workers traveling through West Africa. At these kiosks, health experts lead discussions on how people can protect themselves from HIV/AIDS. In villages from which people migrate in search of work, CARE works to raise awareness of the disease and how to prevent its spread.

For more information, contact Bridget Jorgensen at jorgensen@care.org
or 650-224-4900.

LifeLink's website is at www.care.org/support/sw_siliconvalley/lifelink.cfm