East African Community Headquarters, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 16 April 2014: The Session of Senior Officials of the 9th Ordinary meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health is underway at the Zanzibar Beach Resort Hotel in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
At the official opening of the Session, Ms. Asha Ali Abdallahi, the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Empowerment, Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children, Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania called upon Partner States to closely harmonize and strengthen policies that improve access to high impact interventions thereby improving the quality of life in the EAC.
The Director for Social Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, Ms. Mary Makoffu, expressed the Secretariat’s appreciation to the Senior Officials for their continued role in formulating clear guidelines for the integration process in East Africa.
She noted that the items to be discussed were heavy and extremely crucial for the implementation of regional programmes and projects aimed at furthering the process of integration and advancing the goals of the Community in the Health sector.
The Head of Senior Officials’ delegation from the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Elias M. Kwesi re-affirmed Tanzania’s commitment to the integration agenda and called upon the delegates to individually and collectively implement policies and strategies to address emerging and re-emerging diseases, including the threat of Non Communicable diseases.
Dr. Patrick Amoth, Heading Senior Officials’ delegation from Kenya made reference to the theme of the 2014 World Health Day, which emphasize the need to effectively combat vector borne diseases. He called upon the EAC to renew efforts to eradicate vector borne diseases, non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, HIV/AIDS and emerging and re-emerging diseases in the face of dwindling development assistance to the health sector. Dr. Amoth urged the participants to come up with effective policies to address these concerns and support their implementation.
Dr. Sinkiyajako Severin, Head of Senior Officials’ delegation from Burundi reiterated his country’s commitment to the achievement of East African Community goals and informed the meeting that Burundi had significantly reduced the burden of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, and Acute Severe Respiratory diseases, HIV&AIDS, Hypertension and Diabetes over the years. He expressed Burundi’s willingness to learn more from the other partner states as they seek to further improve public health.
The Head of Senior Officials’ delegation from Rwanda, Dr. Jean Pierre Nyemazi, commended the Partner States and the EAC Secretariat for their support during the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi.
He urged for the development of an EAC regional strategy on One Health as well as the control of Malaria. Dr. Nyemazi urged the EAC Secretariat to effectively track the implementation of previous recommendations of the Sectoral Council on Health.
Uganda’s Head of Senior Officials delegation, Mr. Oteba Olowo Martin expressed Uganda’s desire to share experiences with the other Partner States in regard to strengthening health policies, systems and programs. Mr. Oteba particularly called for the need to share progress in implementation of the recommendation of the 8th Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health by the Delegates.
The Session of Senior Officials of the 9th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Sector Council of Ministers of Health is, among others, addressing issues relating to the finalization of the EAC Regional Health Sector Strategic Plan, the EAC Regional Protocol of Regional Cooperation in Health, strengthening of human resources for health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, Sexual and Reproductive health and rights.
The Director for Social Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, Ms. Mary Makoffu, expressed the Secretariat’s appreciation to the Senior Officials for their continued role in formulating clear guidelines for the integration process in East Africa.
She noted that the items to be discussed were heavy and extremely crucial for the implementation of regional programmes and projects aimed at furthering the process of integration and advancing the goals of the Community in the Health sector.
The Head of Senior Officials’ delegation from the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Elias M. Kwesi re-affirmed Tanzania’s commitment to the integration agenda and called upon the delegates to individually and collectively implement policies and strategies to address emerging and re-emerging diseases, including the threat of Non Communicable diseases.
Dr. Patrick Amoth, Heading Senior Officials’ delegation from Kenya made reference to the theme of the 2014 World Health Day, which emphasize the need to effectively combat vector borne diseases. He called upon the EAC to renew efforts to eradicate vector borne diseases, non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases, HIV/AIDS and emerging and re-emerging diseases in the face of dwindling development assistance to the health sector. Dr. Amoth urged the participants to come up with effective policies to address these concerns and support their implementation.
Dr. Sinkiyajako Severin, Head of Senior Officials’ delegation from Burundi reiterated his country’s commitment to the achievement of East African Community goals and informed the meeting that Burundi had significantly reduced the burden of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, and Acute Severe Respiratory diseases, HIV&AIDS, Hypertension and Diabetes over the years. He expressed Burundi’s willingness to learn more from the other partner states as they seek to further improve public health.
The Head of Senior Officials’ delegation from Rwanda, Dr. Jean Pierre Nyemazi, commended the Partner States and the EAC Secretariat for their support during the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi.
He urged for the development of an EAC regional strategy on One Health as well as the control of Malaria. Dr. Nyemazi urged the EAC Secretariat to effectively track the implementation of previous recommendations of the Sectoral Council on Health.
Uganda’s Head of Senior Officials delegation, Mr. Oteba Olowo Martin expressed Uganda’s desire to share experiences with the other Partner States in regard to strengthening health policies, systems and programs. Mr. Oteba particularly called for the need to share progress in implementation of the recommendation of the 8th Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health by the Delegates.
The Session of Senior Officials of the 9th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Sector Council of Ministers of Health is, among others, addressing issues relating to the finalization of the EAC Regional Health Sector Strategic Plan, the EAC Regional Protocol of Regional Cooperation in Health, strengthening of human resources for health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, Sexual and Reproductive health and rights.
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