HEALTH | LEGISLATORS | NEAPACOH

KAMPALA - After an intensive two-day discussion and debate during the 14th Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) meeting that opened on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, it was time for the delegates to cool down from the stress. 

It was time for dinner and then dancing. At exactly 7pm, all guests gathered at the Pool Side and started ordering for drinks of all sorts.

Delegates have dinner. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Then they were invited for dinner as the Crane Performers treated them to various traditional African presentations, from mainly the Ugandan tribal grounds, from the North to the West, Central, East and other places.

However, after dinner, Gordon Kayovu Ssezooba, the main architect of the Crane Performers introduced the famous Jambo Bwana song, a Kenyan pop song that is also liked in many African countries. 

It was time for dinner and then dancing.

First on the floor were the Kenyan Members of Parliament and they were quickly followed by the Ugandan legislators and people from the NGO world and the rest followed. 

It became so popular and created a lot of vibes, especially with the mention of each of the 20 countries that had representatives. Several others whose countries had been omitted protested and jumped to the floor until the names were said out loud.

This was the 4th Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) meeting.

The floor caught fire and some legislators were seen donning some traditional headgear borrowed from the group while others wanted to out-compete the dancers. 

It was indeed the climax of the two-day conference, whose theme was “Building the capacity of African policy makers for achieving Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals; the role of Parliamentarians'.

The conference was opened by Uganda’s minister of health, Dr. Ruth Aceng, who represented the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among. 

Dr. Aceng was proud to say Uganda was able to contain the outbreak of Ebola pandemic in 69days only and avoided a spillover to neighboring countries, an example to prove that Africa is capable of defeating other challenges including attaining Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals. 

Dr. Aaron Mwanza an MP from Zambia must have lost his sight with the headgear.

The conference was also attended by the minister for ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the director general of the National Population Council, Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, among several guests and the main target this year was how legislators can influence their respective parliaments and governments on achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Aaron Daniel Mwanza, a famous legislator from the Zambian opposition’s Patriotic Front almost outcompeted the rest but there was this veteran legislator from the Eswatini kingdom, Jerry Dlamini Mathokoza who has attended almost all the conferences, who at some point was the only one competing with the Crane dancers. 

The Legislators enjoyed the day.

The delegates came from Benin Mali, Zambia, Malawi, Niger, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Lesotho, Chad, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Eswatini (Swaziland), Tunisia, among others.

The dancing was, however, interrupted by Patrick Mugirwa, the program director of the Partners in Population and Development, Africa Regional Office, (PPA ARO) who announced that several delegates must sign out and be ready to board a shuttle for the 11pm flight. 

The Crane Performers didn't disappoint the guests.

This caused an uproar and many guests who were still enjoying the moments cursed but reluctantly left the venue to sign out of their rooms. But others whose flights were scheduled for Friday cheered and remained and danced till late. 

The physical annual meetings had not taken place for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Several enjoyed the presentation.

The delegates had fun.

It was a full parked entertainment

Delegates have fun