HEALTH | NEAPACOH | LEGISLATORS

KAMPALA - The meeting of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) has endorsed eleven commitments code-named ‘Kampala Call to Action'.

The legislators, backed by various experts on population and health matters and representatives of non-governmental organizations advocating for improved health of mainly women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa from 19 countries have adopted and bound themselves to push the commitments in their respective Parliaments and governments.

The legislators, backed by various experts adopted and bound themselves to push the commitments in their respective Parliaments and governments. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

The meeting closed on Thursday, February 23, 2023, and drafted the commitments, which were sent to the respective participants who have endorsed them.

Among other issues, the legislators committed to advocating for increased financial resources, including domestic, bilateral and multilateral funding for programs that contribute to accelerated Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their respective countries.

The meeting closed on Thursday, February 23, 2023, and drafted the commitments, which were sent to the respective participants who have endorsed them.

In addition, they agreed to increase domestic financing for immunization to protect populations from vaccine-preventable diseases, sustain immunization gains made over the years, and strengthen epidemic preparedness, prevention, and response.

They also pledged to call upon their respective governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and all relevant stakeholders, to commit more investments including new and emerging health technologies to accelerate the attainment of UHC and SDGs on the continent.

The delegates advocated for improved health of mainly women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The meeting, with a theme; “Building the Capacity of African Policy Makers for Achieving UHC and SDGs: The Role of Parliamentarians was opened by Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, the Ugandan minister for health who represented the speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among and was closed by the state minister for economic monitoring, Amos Lugoloobi.

Participants came from countries including Benin, Burundi, Chad, Eswatini(Swaziland), Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, The Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Uganda, who was the host. 

Among other issues, the legislators committed to advocating for increased financial resources, including domestic, bilateral and multilateral funding for programs that contribute to accelerated Universal Health Coverage.

It also had representatives of international organizations, development and technical partners, health champions, researchers and academics, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders engaged in reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health and nutrition programs.

Other commitments include increasing domestic resource allocation towards primary health care systems. 

Delegates also pledged to call upon their respective governments, development partners, civil society organizations, and all relevant stakeholders, to commit more investments including new and emerging health technologies to accelerate the attainment of UHC and SDGs on the continent.

This is intended to meet the needs and priorities of communities and countries towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. 

They also want to see a strengthening of South-to-South cooperation so as to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, lessons learned and good practices in the field of population, health, environment and development.

Female delegates interact during the conference.

After a two-day deliberation, the legislators agreed to develop and pass appropriate laws and policies that ensure universal access to health including sexual and reproductive health, family planning services, and post-abortion care. 

This is aimed at supporting the initiatives for achieving zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal deaths, zero gender-based violence, harmful practices, such as child marriages and female genital mutilation, and prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

A delegate records proceedings with his phone.

They agreed to develop and strengthen Africa's manufacturing capacity, promoting and upholding good governance and accountability in all matters of health, support the development and adoption of the African Citizens Manifesto on Health.

The delegates want to continue providing leadership and stewardship on policy, legislation and perform budgetary oversight for all the priority areas and strengthen their network through expanded partnerships and undertaking resource mobilization activities to support the implementation of the commitments and ensure sustainability.

Officials appreciate the message.

The meeting was hosted by the Parliament of Uganda and Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) with support from the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), Faith to Action Network and PATH.

The commitments were passed following worries that the health status of the people of Africa is alarming with unacceptably high morbidity and mortality levels especially among children, youth and women. 

It was an interactive session.

There is also a concern about low access to quality health services with consequences such as teenage and unplanned pregnancies coupled with inadequate birth spacing, among other issues.

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Delegates interacting

After a two-day deliberation, the legislators agreed to develop and pass appropriate laws and policies that ensure universal access to health including sexual and reproductive health, family planning services, and post-abortion care.

Delegates agreed to develop and strengthen Africa's manufacturing capacity.

The delegates want to continue providing leadership and stewardship on policy, legislation and perform budgetary oversight for all the priority areas and strengthen their network through expanded partnerships.

The meeting was hosted by the Parliament of Uganda and Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) with support from the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD), Faith to Action Network and PATH.

Officilas also discussed concern about low access to quality health services with its consequences such as teenage and unplanned pregnancies coupled with inadequate birth spacing, among other issues.

It was all about interacting even after the session.

Photo moments

The conference was really fruitful.

After a two-day deliberation, the legislators agreed to develop and pass appropriate laws and policies that ensure universal access to health including sexual and reproductive health, family planning services, and post-abortion care.