THIRD MEETING OF THE SPECIALISED TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH POPULATION
AND DRUG CONTROL (STC-HPDC-3)
CAIRO EGYPT
29th JULY 2019

Theme
Increased Domestic Financing for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security for All African Citizens- Including Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons
OPENING REMARKS

By Cisse Mariama Mohamed
Director for Social Affairs

Protocol
• Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt
• Senior Government officials;
• Representatives of Development Organisations;
• Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen
• All Protocol Observed

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to the the Third Meeting of the Specialised Technical Committee on Health Population and Drug Control (STC-HPDC-3) under the theme Increased Domestic Financing for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security for All African Citizens - including Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons.

Allow me to thank the Arab Republic of Egypt for graciously hosting us in this beautiful and historical City, Cairo whose name, I am told, means a “Victorious People”.

Aspiration 1 Goal 3 of Africa’s blueprint for social and economic transformation, Agenda 2063 - the Africa “we want” - envisages Healthy and well-nourished citizens, where every citizen has full access to affordable and quality health care services and protection from challenges of drug abuse and drug trafficking. The Africa we want is one where these services will be available to all including vulnerable groups such as young women, adolescents, persons with disability, refugees and returnees, those living with HIV/AIDS and those with drug use disorders. Africa will be rid of all the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and all communicable and infectious diseases, such as Ebola, will be fully brought under control. Robust, integrated systems will be in place to significantly reduce non-communicable and lifestyle changes related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and deaths from HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis will be reduced to zero. Integrated and comprehensive health services and infrastructure will be in place, services available, accessible, affordable, acceptable and of quality. The African population of 2063 will be healthy, well nourished, and enjoying a life expectancy of above 75 years. For this to be realized, we need collective wisdom and efforts, and this meeting affords us the opportunity to dialogue and take stock of our actions.

The Africa Union through the Department of Social Affairs and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has been working diligently to fulfill this mandate through implementation of various initiatives in collaboration with Member States and stakeholders to improve the well-being of its citizens. Some of the initiatives that the department has implemented include the advocacy for increased domestic financing for health as evident from the hosting of the Africa Leadership Meeting in Addis Ababa which called upon Head of States and relevant stakeholder in the health sector to increase financing for health through public and private partnerships. The Commission has also developed scorecards on domestic financing for health, Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB) and CARMMA to serve as accountability frameworks in addressing health issues which are revised every year.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to highlight some of the key achievement during the past two years which include: the successful evaluation of campaign for the accelerated reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) 2009- 2019 which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and the update on the Africa Health Stats and CARMMA scorecard data platform which now have 50 and 20 indicators respectively. Further, the next three days will appreciate the deliberation of the draft Declaration on Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis; the Post Africa Leadership Meeting on domestic financing; and the Common Position on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Moreover, experts will be updated on the progress made in the implementation of the Africa Health Strategy (AHS); The Maputo plan of Action; the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and Elimination of Malaria; which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and the update on the Africa Health Stats and CARMMA scorecard data platform which now have 50 and 20 indicators respectively

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
In the area of drug control, the African Union has been promoting a multi-sectorial, balanced and integrated approach between supply reduction, demand reduction, and international cooperation. The Commission has been working with Member States to improve their capacity to respond to the challenge of drugs. In this regard, the Commission has been implementing a project to improve the capacity of Member States to respond effectively to drug demand reduction challenges through the establishment of drug use surveillance systems or epidemiology networks to improve availability of evidence for policy formulation and programming.

I am excited to announce that the inaugural continental drug epidemiology report, giving an overview of drugs trafficked/produced, and the extent and effect of drug use, will be launched during this meeting. Significantly, I am also pleased to note that this STC will consider the revised plan of action on drug control for 2019 to 2023 which, interalia, incorporates measures to tackle drug demand reduction and health issues associated with drug use; and also availability and access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, while preventing their diversion.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The compacted agenda as presented in the documents folder is an indication of our commitment in undertaking our mandate to work toward the development of the continent and ensuring the well-being of our citizens as stipulated in the Agenda 2063, the guiding framework for our efforts.

I look forward to your fruitful deliberations during the sessions and concrete recommendations to our Ministers that can be implemented over the next 2 years that will assist us in ensuring efficiency and excellence in realizing our obligations. We also look forward to strong collaborations and support from the Member States in implementing these initiatives. I wish to reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to ensure sustained political will and continuous coordination and harmonization of all efforts to achieve our desired goals. Human-centered and inclusive development will continue to be the priority of the Commission. Once again, I thank you for your participation in this meeting and wish you a memorable stay in Cairo.
I thank you.