UN special envoy on AIDS in Africa kicks off three-nation tour in Kenya

The United Nations special envoy on AIDS in Africa today met with President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya, who agreed to speak to other African leaders about his country's legislation on important drugs used in the fight against the deadly disease.

Stephen Lewis, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for AIDS in Africa, was in Nairobi after attending last week's annual summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), in Lusaka, Zambia.

According to a UN spokesman, Mr. Lewis' discussions with the Kenyan President covered the Global AIDS and Health Fund and the importance of African representation on its governing body, the desperate situation of orphans in Kenya, and the new legislation in Kenya allowing for the manufacture or import of generic anti-retroviral drugs.

President Moi also agreed to speak to and visit one or more Presidents in the sub-region to discuss his country's legislation on anti-retroviral drugs. President Moi is a member of the core group of African leaders determined to keep the momentum going in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

As part of his three-nation tour, Mr. Lewis will be visiting Rwanda and Nigeria over the next two weeks.