Accelerating Progress Towards Improved Women's and Children's ...

Accelerating Progress Towards Improved
Women’s and Children’s Health in Africa:
A Multi-stakeholder and Multi-sectoral Effort
June 26, 2013 (morning) – Johannesburg, South Africa
June 14, 2013
Session objective
Upcoming regional and global level initiatives that aim to promote reproductive, maternal,
newborn and child health (RMNCH) outcomes include:
1. Abuja +12 Special Summit of African Union (AU) Heads of States,15-16 July 2013 and
2. International MNCH Conference organized by the AU and South African government, 1-3
August 2013
This session builds on the opportunity of the PMNCH Board to discuss and align on
1. key issues to be raised in the aforementioned regional meetings,
2. strategic requirements to accelerate implementation of regional initiatives
3. Future collaboration between global and regional partners
Session outcomes
1. Understanding key RMNCH trends and social and environmental determinants of health in
the Africa region, and sub-regional differences
2. Overview of successful partnership examples that are working towards improved health
outcomes and their related campaigns, initiatives and events
3. Agreement on:
a. key issues to be raised in the aforementioned regional meetings,
b. strategic requirements to accelerate implementation of regional initiatives
c. Future collaboration between global and regional partners
Background
While Africa accounts for 15 percent of the global population it bears a disproportionate amount
of the world’s ill health. Over half of all of the world’s 287 000 maternal deaths and 6.9 million
Accelerating Progress Towards Improved Women’s and Children’s Health in Africa:
A Multi-stakeholder and Multi-sectoral Effort Page 1 of 3

June 14, 2013
deaths of children under five happen on the continent. While Africa has seen substantive progress
in the improvement of women’s and children’s health, more efforts are required. 43 of the 75
countries that account for 95 % of maternal and child deaths are in Africa. Of these only 6 African
countries (Egypt, Eritrea, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi and Morocco) are on track to reach MDG 4
and 3 (Egypt, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea) are on track to reach MDG 5.
Improvements in health outcomes of African populations have been slowed by a range of factors
within and outside of the health sector. Weak health systems wrought with inadequate numbers
of health workers, poor access to commodities, poor information infrastructure and low levels of
health financing, join social and environmental determinants such as poor access to clean water
and sanitation, malnutrition, lack of education, and gender discrimination in preventing access to
quality health services.
While challenges persist, there are opportunities. The African continent benefits from regional
and sub-regional institutions (such as the African Union, East African Community and Pan African
Parliament among others) that have placed health, particularly women’s and children’s health at
the center their political priorities and that have as such influenced global priorities and provided a
space for accountability for states. The continent has also benefited from increased commitment
by national governments to prioritize health. Also, despite a decrease in the growth rate of
development assistance for health and a move towards increasing national health financing, Africa
remains a strong area of investment for the many global initiatives targeting improved health.
Participants
Approximately 60 including PMNCH Board members, AU Commission, East African Community,
Ministries of Health from PMNCH Countries, Africa MNCH Coalition and other key development
partners.
Accelerating Progress Towards Improved Women’s and Children’s Health in Africa:
A Multi-stakeholder and Multi-sectoral Effort Page 2 of 3

June 14, 2013
Agenda 10:00 – 13:30
10:00 – 10:30 Setting the Scene – Working Together to Improve Women’s and
Children’s Health
Welcome (all ministers on dias)
Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health South Africa
H.E. Prof. C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health of Nigeria
Introduction and Session Objectives
Mr Daniel Makokera, CEO, Pamuzinda productions
Keynote speech: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Africa:
Understanding trends and determinants
Prof. Marian Jacobs Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town -
TBC
10:30 – 13:00 Panel discussion: Successful Partnership Models for Improved Health
Outcomes
Moderator:
Mr Daniel Makokera, CEO, Pamuzinda productions
Panel:
H.E. Commissioner Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AUC Commissioner for Social Affairs
H.E. Dr Kesetebirhan Admasu Birhane, Minister of Health of Ethiopia –TBC
H.E. Prof. C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health of Nigeria
Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health South Africa
H.E. Dr Richard Sezibera, Secretary General, East African Community – TBC
Discussion
13:00 – 13:15 Summary and way forward
Dr. Carole Presern, Executive Director, PMNCH
13:15 – 13:30 Closing Remarks
Dr Flavia Bustreo, Assistant Director General, WHO
Accelerating Progress Towards Improved Women’s and Children’s Health in Africa:
A Multi-stakeholder and Multi-sectoral Effort Page 3 of 3