Johannesburg, 07 November 2017- The African Union Commission (AUC) convened regional and continental partners last week to discuss joint priorities to support countries end AIDS, TB and Malaria by 2030. In attendance were: African Union Organs, Regional Economic Communities, Regional Health Organisations, development partners, civil society the private sector and invited guests.

“We have the science and tools to end AIDS, TB and Malaria by 2030. The continental targets set for the three diseases can be achieved with sustained leadership, ownership, sustained financing, effective partnerships and accountability,” said Dr. Richard Kamwi, former health minister of Namibia who is the current Goodwill Ambassador of Elimination 8 and Africa CDC Champion.

The Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030 is a continental framework that enunciates key policy issues, strategic priorities, targets and accountability mechanisms.

“Africa’s agenda for inclusive growth, socio-economic and structural transformation is predicated on harnessing the demographic dividend from its youthful population. To ensure that Africa is firmly on this path the health agenda remains fundamental and requires multi-level partnerships and streamlined coordination to ensure that we get the value for money, create synergies and innovation needed to defeat these three diseases” said Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye of the African Union Commission.

The Africa Partnership and Coordination Forum on AIDS, TB and Malaria established in 2016 coordinates the efforts of regional and continental players in supporting countries to implement the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030. This year the Forum developed an action plan with key advocacy and resource mobilisation priorities, opportunities for joint action, advocacy for continued political commitment and coordination of efforts of various stakeholders at the regional level. These high level actions were aligned to the Catalytic Framework’s business model for investing for impact through focused investment in three strategic investment areas which are health systems strengthening, generation and use of evidence for policy and programme interventions and advocacy and capacity building. The meeting adopted an accountability mechanism to track progress annually on agreed joint priorities.

The policy direction and coordination of continental frameworks is primarily driven by Member States Experts who are convened through the biannual Specialised Technical Committee on Health Population and Drug Control. Furthermore the AIDS Watch Africa Consultative Experts Committee Meeting that is convened annually also provides technical input to define the policy direction on health and the response to AIDS, TB and Malaria. At a higher level the AIDS Watch Africa, Heads of State and Government also meet annually and review progress on the continental response to AIDS, TB and Malaria and their pronouncements and decisions.

For more information, visit http://www.au.int
For further information contact:
Dr. Marie-Goretti Harakeye Ndayisaba | Head of Division AIDS, TB and Malaria | Social Affairs Department | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: Harakeyem@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int |Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission. Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en/

For more information:

Tawanda Chisango | Advocacy and Partnerships Expert | Department of Social Affairs | African Union Commission I E-mail: chisangot@african-union.org I Tel: +251934167052

Media Contact:
Esther Azaa Tankou I Head of Information Division I Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC I Tel: +251 911361185 / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

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