On 5th December 2018, the Africa Regional Office of Partners in Population and Development (PPD ARO) hosted a delegation of Parliamentarians from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of the Republic of South Sudan and members of the country newly formed Parliamentary Network on Population and Development (SSPNPD).
The Parliamentarians were on a four day tour in Uganda including visits at their sister Uganda parliamentary Forum on Food Security Population and Development as well other Institutions in the country. As a young Parliament, the South Sudan parliamentarians visited Uganda to gain acquaintance to the Ugandan experience, benchmarks and learn from the best practices especially in the field of Parliamentary engagement on Population, Family Planning, Sexual and Reproductive Health issues.
The meeting at PPD ARO offices was also attended by members of the Uganda Family Planning Consortium (UFPC) and the Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians. In his briefing to the delegates, Mr. Patrick Mugirwa, the Programme Manager at PPD ARO briefed the members about PPD’s high Advocacy engagement with African Parliamentarians and policy makers especially through the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH).
The leader of the delegation and Chairperson of the SSPNPD, Hon. Jajur Babur thanked PPD ARO for the work done in the field of RH/FP Population and Development in the region and expressed desire for his country’s adhesion to PPD. Other members of the delegation included Hon. Dr. Margaret Joel Barnaba, Hon. Simon Lumori Philip, Hon. Sara Benjamin, Hon. Gese Morris and Hon. Taban Luka Guya. Staff from both UNFPA Country Offices of Uganda and South Sudan also attended this meeting.