. Four Nobel Prize winners will lead gathering of global experts in examiningnew integrated approach to fight the ‘Triple Epidemic’ of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in Africa

The Gabonese Republic will host an international symposium this week to promote an integrated approach to addressing the Triple Epidemic of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in Africa. Taking place in the two Gabonese cities of Libreville and Lambaréné on July 6-7, the symposium will be mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Dr. Albert Schweitzer hospital in Lambaréné.Dr.Schweitzer, who was awarded the1952 Nobel Peace Prize, is noted as one of the 20th century’s greatest humanitarians.

During the two-day symposium, four Nobel Laureates will join more than 80 speakers and 250 delegates from around the world for discussions that evaluate connectionswithin the Triple Epidemicand explore a holistic approach to treatment,rather than providing exhaustive data on each of the pathologies.Together, these participants -leaders in their field who includemedical researchers, scientists, doctors, social sciences experts, private sector stakeholders, and representatives of NGOs andhealth agencies - will produce a roadmap for coordination and collaboration - named the Lambaréné Declaration.
The symposium is held under the High Patronage of H.E. Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic, who said: “Schweitzer was a man of many talents and interests, but above all else he believed in the value of life and the responsibility to care for it. For a century, his hospital and our country have been home to his legacy of dedication to health and quality of life for all people. We are so proud of this honor, and we hold dearly our continued responsibility to it.”

Noted speakersat the symposium include:

• DR. PETER AGRE, Director, John Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2003) for his discovery of proteins known as aquaporinsthat move water molecules through the cell membrane (USA)
• LEYMAH GBOWEE, Co-Founder, Women in Peace and Security Network, awareded the Nobel Peace Prize (2011) for her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work (Liberia)
• DR. LUC MONTAGNIER, Founder, Fondation Mondiale Recherche et Prévention SIDA, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2008) for his discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (France)
• DR. ROLF MARTIN ZINKERNAGEL, Professor of Experimental immunology, University of Zurich, awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1996) for the discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells (Switzerland)

As part of the Centennial celebrations, President Bongo will announce the Albert Schweitzer GabonAward.PromotingDr Schweitzer’s humanitarian values, the award will support fundamental research in combatting the infectious diseases that most affect citizens in tropical regions across the globe.
The Albert Schweitzer Hospital centennial is produced by Richard Attias and Associates.