ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 27, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
With the continental and global consensus on sustainable development in the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 the African Union on Tuesday finalised the review of key health policy instruments that will guide the continent for the next 15 years. The review follows the Decision of the Ministers of Health last year mandating the AU Commission to finalise the revision of key AU health policy instruments.
“These health policy instruments will provide the strategic direction to secure health for all by 2030 in Africa” said Ambassador Olawale Maiyegun, the Director of Social Affairs.
The reviewed documents include the overarching Africa Health Strategy (2016-2030); the Maputo Plan of Action (2016-2030) for the implementation of the Continental Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.
The Africa Health Strategy is the primary consolidative document for all African commitments in the health sector. It will inspire, guide and highlight Africa’s strategic priorities in the next one and a half decade. The strategy calls on Member States to prioritise and invest in health through strengthened health systems, community engagement, fostering public private partnerships.
During the meeting Member State Experts also deliberated on the establishment of the African Health Volunteers Corps. The African Union is establishing the Corps as part of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The Africa CDC will assemble, equip, and mobilise a deployable roaster of volunteer medical and public health professionals. This will ensure rapid and effective responses to public health emergencies to Member States and address matters of global concern including health impacts of natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
