April 6, 2009

First Ladies of U.S., France to Unite for Global AIDS Efforts

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama met with French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy for the first time on April 3 and agreed to work together to draw attention to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, Agence France-Presse reports. The two met for a one-on-one lunch while their husbands, U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, had talks before the NATO alliance’s 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg, France.

According to the article, the women will talk via telephone in the coming weeks to develop a joint plan to address HIV and other health concerns.

Bruni-Sarkozy, a former model and singer-songwriter, was spurred into advocacy after losing a brother to AIDS. Last December, she was named a goodwill ambassador for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; in February, she made her first trip on behalf of the organization to Burkina Faso, West Africa.

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Dj, , 2009-04-11 10:14:01
Great! Nice to see International involvement, but believe we need more attention and dollars for programs with people living with HIV/AIDS right here in the US. Get the people the care and drugs to take care of them first.

wpa, , 2009-04-09 10:48:35
I am French and I just think Carla is trying to get extra publicity with Michelle. She has been the French first lady for almost two years before she started the AIDS 'thang. A Phony! Michelle stay away from her.

L J Frazier III, Fort Lauderdale, 2009-04-07 21:34:29
I was greatly pleased to see as one of her first priorities by First Lady Michelle Obama a commtitment to work jointly with the French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy on plans to draw attention to and address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic along with other health concerns. It feels good to have the feeling that our 1st Family "cares" about us.