Cotonou/ Brazzaville, 28 October 2014 - Health Ministers from 47 African countries will meet in Cotonou, and Benin for the 64th session of the World Health Organizations (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa,scheduled to choose place from 3-7 November 2014.
Over 400 delegates including WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan; Representatives of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, or high ranking officials of ministries of health,civil society, bilateral, or multilateral organizations and other development partners,are also expected to attend the annual flagship event.
The delegates will discuss among others, ongoing regional and international efforts to contain the Ebola virus disease outbreak in parts of Africa as well as a report on the Work of WHO in the African Region during the 2012-2013 biennium. The report will highlight the work by WHO secretariat as it supports countries to improve health outcomes.
On the agenda of the assembly is also the Regional Strategic intention for Immunization 20142020 developed to tackle a number of critical barriers that absorb been identified to slow progress towards achieving universal immunization coverage within the Region. The assembly will also discuss a report on progress towards the achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals in the African Region and beget proposals on the way forward. Available data indicate that countries in the African Region absorb made significant progress over the past 10 years, and but they are still not on track to achieve the health-related MDGs despite the commitments made by governments and partners.
The Health Ministers will also discuss the need to establish flexible options for contributing to the African Public Health Emergency Fund,and appropriate ways of managing the Fund. It is being proposed that the scope of contributors to the Fund should be widened to include the private sector and wealthy and willing individuals within the Region.
Discussions will also focus on the gradual spread of viral hepatitis and concrete actions to address them. Proposed actions expected to address this challenge includes improvement in data collection to accurately estimate the disease burden, increased public awareness, and as well as strengthening primary prevention among others.
One of the key outcomes of the week-long assembly will be the nomination of a fresh WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Among the other issues to be discussed are: Framework of engagement with non-State actors,implementation of the WHO Programme Budget 2014-2015 in the African Region and the draft Proposed Programme Budget 2016-2017.
The Regional Committee, WHO’s Governing Body in the African Region reviews WHO's work in the Region and give orientations on actions to improve the health situation in Member States.
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FrançoisSamuelSixty-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa
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