GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S VISIT TO AFRICA

11 March 2009

The Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, will visit nine African countries from Monday, March 16th to Friday, April 3rd.

Ms Bryce has been invited to visit Mauritius, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Seychelles in back to back State and official visits.

Her visits will incorporate meetings with the President of each country. The visits will emphasise Australia’s growing engagement with Africa, and the significant contribution of the Australian government and Australian aid organisations to combating problems such as HIV/Aids, mother to child disease transmission, orphaned and destitute children and maternal health. A visit to the Addis Ababa Fistular Hospital will mark the 50th anniversary of the Hospital’s foundation by Dr Catherine Hamlin AC.

Please find basic details of the visit below. More information related to specific programs in each country will be available from Government House. It should be noted that some details of the program are subject to change.

DATE COUNTRY MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

16 – 19 March Mauritius Wreath laying at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden; official lunch; meeting with Mauritian women

19 – 20 March Namibia Visit to Ben’s Bikes (Australian NGO project assisting Namibians);State Dinner

20 – 21 March Zambia State lunch; meeting with Mr Kenneth Kaunda; visit University Teaching Hospital; HIV Technical Support Project; visit Mother to Child Transmission Clinic, Dambwa

23 – 24 March Botswana State lunch; visit SOS Orphan Children’s Village; presentation of Australian fire-fighting equipment

24 – 26 March Mozambique Opening address, World Bank Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility; visit Escola Primaria Completa school; visit BHP-Billiton Mozal Aluminium Smelter and community trust projects; visit Paediatric Day Hospital; wreath laying, Heroes’ Monument; State dinner

26 – 28 March Ethiopia State lunch; visit Addis Ababa Fistular Hospital and Midwife Training School;

28 – 30 March Kenya Visit school/sanitation/ and agriculture programs; Nairobi National Park; visit Kenyatta University;

30 March - 1 April Tanzania Visit WW1 Commonwealth War Graves site; visit CARE’s Women and Girls Empowerment Program; visit PLAN’s Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses

1 – 3 April Seychelles State dinner; visit Roche Caiman bridge; meeting Seychelles Association of Professional Women