Location: East of the sun and west of the moon, United States
Posts: 6,408
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larzen
The main objective of the visit is to focus on the impact of HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa and to study the response to this from Malawian authorities in cooperation with Norway and International Organisations.
In Malawi
HIV Infected: 900,000 AIDS Deaths: 87,000 AIDS Orphans: 380,000
"A child in Malawi has a 25% chance of dying before reaching 5 years of age. A cholera outbreak orphaned 400,000 children. "
Let´s hope the Crown Princess´s presence and warm smile will bring joy to all of the children of Malawi. Mulungu Dalitsani Malawi.
Wow! That statistic is heartbreaking! ITA hopefully Mette-Marit's visit will bring happiness to these children and draw some attention to Malwai.
It's good to see Mette-Marit working for a good cause, but I can't help but wonder whether it will have any effect. I don't doubt her skills and good intentions, but after so many campaigns of sensibilisation and prevention, aids keeps spreading more and more in Africa, the number of infected people has only increased dramatically. What can a Norwegian princess change?
I dont think anyone thinks that Mette-Marit will change anything, nor do I think any other princess will make life altering changes on the things they support or places they visit, not in the big picture atleast. Mostly there will be some "what did she wear storys" and some pictures with children in the in the less then serious glossy magazines, and some focus on Malawi in the more serious papers and on the news, at least that is usually how it works in the scandinavian countries... is it different in Belgium?
However every year Malawi recives 200 millions NOK from Norway in forreign aid and is one of the target countrys for Norwegian development funds. One purpose with this trip, where she is accompanied by the development minister, is to see where\how the Norwegian money is spent and to open a Norwegian funded resource and education center, not to find a cure for AIDS
It's good to see Mette-Marit working for a good cause, but I can't help but wonder whether it will have any effect. I don't doubt her skills and good intentions, but after so many campaigns of sensibilisation and prevention, aids keeps spreading more and more in Africa, the number of infected people has only increased dramatically. What can a Norwegian princess change?
I think that she has the ability to put the media's spotlight on the cases. I certainly had no idea of how heavy Malawi was hit before she visited. I did know that Africa has major problems. However Malawi isn't a very large country, and not very often featured in the news in Norway.
Mette-Marit's visit gives a visibility for Malawi in the Norwegian press.
LILONGWE, MALAWI - JANUARY 24: HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway visits Kamuzu Hospital on January 24, 2005 in Lilongwe, Malawi. The princess is in Malawi until January 27, accompanied by the Norwegian Development Minister, Ms Hilde F. Johnson, focusing on the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa and to study the response to this from Malawian authorities in cooperation with Norway and International Organisations.
Thanks Lyonnaise and pdas1201 for all the pictures. Mette-Marit seems to be enjoying herself very much and the children seem to be enjoying her a lot, too!
Still some more from Day 2 that haven't been posted.
BLANTYRE, MALAWI - JANUARY 24: HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway arrives at a concert at the French Cultural Centre January 24, 2005 in Blantyre, Malawi. The princess is in Malawi until January 27, accompanied by the Norwegian Development Minister Ms. Hilde F. Johnson, focusing on the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, and to study the response from Malawian authorities in cooperation with Norway and international organizations.
BLANTYRE, MALAWI - JANUARY 25: HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway visits patients at Queen Elizibeth Hospital on January 25, 2005 in Blantyre, Malawi. Many of the patients are suffering from ailments such as malnutrition and AIDS, they wait out-side for a few hours every day whilst the wards are cleaned, these are the lucky ones: Some of the patients are still waiting to be treated and have camped outside the hospital for up to three weeks.The princess is in Malawi until January 27, accompanied by the Norwegian Development Minister, Ms Hilde F. Johnson, focusing on the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa and to study the response to this from Malawian authorities in cooperation with Norway and International Organisations.
After posting these pictures, I just have to say how impressed I am with Mette-Marit. She's a great ambassador for Norway. I'm not sure why, but I get the impression that Mette-Marit is more at ease when she's outside of Norway. She always seems to glow and seem so much more confident when she's abroad. (She blew me away when she was in Iceland)
Now some of you may know that I am not one to compare anyone to Diana, but I kind of have to make an exception in this case. Of all the princesses she seems the one that is more close and open w/ the ppl. Way to go MM!
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