America, Meet Africa's First Ladies

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In the languages of Portuguese and French, the first ladies of countries like Nigeria, Mali and Angola described the issues facing women, children and health
throughout the continent of Africa.

Hadja Djene Kaba Condé, the first lady of the nation of Guinea in West Africa told the audience of more than a hundred attendees about some of the
issues women faced in her country.

“The childhood mortality is approximately 163 children per a thousand live births, and  one child will die before its fifth birthday….There are other problems with that like female gential mutilation, HIV/AIDS is becoming more and more a feminine question." Condé said.

One of the goals of the summit is to partner with public and private businesses to discuss aid to Africa.

One possible connection in the audience included Dr. Damion Alexander, a managing partner at a health consulting firm. He said, "What I'm hoping to hear are actionable projects that will get initiated on the continent and various nations...that there will be an opportunity to get involved."

Democratic Congresswomen Maxine Waters and Karen Bass were among those invited to speak.

Bass says Congress and President Obama are in agreement that U.S. aid to Africa is an important global agenda.

“One thing they say is Democrats and Republicans always fight across the aisle, but one thing we can agree on is Africa.” Bass said.

Bass is a member of the subcommittee on Africa in Congress and is focused on the African Growth and Opportunity Act. This is legislation passed by Congress to improve economic relations between the U.S. and the Africa.

The Summit is being held in partnership WITH the U.S. Doctors of Africa and the United Nations. It will continue tomorrow.