I. Background
The health status of the people of Africa continues to be a matter of concern. The morbidity and mortality levels, especially of children and women remain unacceptably high. Access to quality health services is still limited, and women in particular face increased health risks from unplanned pregnancies and limited birth spacing. In particular, unmet need for family planning (FP) remains high in most African countries.
While governments in Africa have committed themselves to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)in international and regional agreements, like the Maputo Plan of Action on SRH, implementation of these commitments at country level remains uneven. Yet frameworks like the Maputo Plan of Action, which is an all-Africa continental framework that envisions universal access to SRHR including family planning (FP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that recognize the importance of SRHR globally would, if implemented, have uplifted the status of women and children of the continent in a very fundamental way. A review of progress in achieving the past MDGs revealed that the health-related goals in particular (MDG 4 on reducing child mortality, MDG 5 on improving maternal health, and MDG 6 on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases) remained unfinished business in the post-2015 development agenda.
The international community agreed to an ambitious new development framework “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) that would end poverty by 2030 and universally promote shared economic prosperity, social development and environmental protection. The SDGs that follow and expand on the MDGs were adopted at the UN in New York in September 2016. For this to happen, we need to build the capacity of African policy makers for RH/FP to ensure that SRHR including FP, continue to benefit from renewed vigour and determination in the post-2015 development agenda especially by policymakers.
It is imperative, therefore, that strong political will, national ownership and support is built and maintained in order to consolidate the gains made. The NEAPACOH aims at just that. The meeting will provide space for capacity building and constructive discussions between and among members of the African parliamentary committees of health to deliberate on priority policy interventions, build and sustain the momentum for political will for SRHR within the context of the SDGs.
II. Purpose: Goals and Objectives
Goals
To build the capacity of African policy makers and ensure sustained political will and leadership for SRH/FP within the of context of the SDGs
Objectives
1. Assess progress made, challenges and lessons learned on achieving the country commitments made at the September 2016 NEAPACOH meeting;
2. Share innovative and cost effective parliamentary experiences and practices that enhance the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), FP2020 and SRH related commitments;
3. Enhance accountability, political leadership and stewardship for the implementation of RH/FP frameworks in the region in the context of the SDGs; and
4. Develop country-specific action plans for parliamentarians that promote RH/FP for implementation over the subsequent 12 months.
Expected outcomes
- Increased knowledge and appreciation by policy makers and development partners of the linkages between FP/RH and development.
- Committed political leadership for SRHR in the region;
- Increased accountability for the implementation of SRHR commitments;
- Improved polices and increased resources for FP/RH in national budgets;
- Created FP/RH champions in the region.
III. Participants
The meeting participants will be Parliamentarians who are members of the Committees of Health and their Committee Clerks, as well representatives of development partners, NGOs, Civil Society and other important stakeholders engaged in Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternal and Child Health programs.
The participants are expected to come from the Parliaments and National Assembles of (Angola, Benin, Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe)
The program for the meeting is available online by clicking on the links below
A number of key documents from the meetings are available online by clicking on the links below;
Day One: December 13, 2017
Session One : Opening Ceremony / Remarks
Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Director General, National Population Council, Uganda
Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Speaker of Parliament, Parliament of Uganda
Session Two :
Key Note address by Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi
Session Three :
Facilitating the sustainability of Maternal Health programs through motivation and incentivizing community health workers in Uganda
Day Two: December 14, 2017
Session Four :
Country Progress, Achievements and Challenges Regarding the implementation of country specific-actions made during the previous NEAPACOH meeting :
Session Five :
Presentation and adoption of 2017 Kampala Call to Action by Mr. Moses Dombo.
Session Six:
Closing Ceremony – Remarks
Vote of thanks by Benin Parliamentary delegation (English).
Vote of thanks by Benin Parliamentary delegation (French).