What:  The Fourth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control (STC-HPDC-4)

When:  30 May – 1 June 2022

Where: Virtually

Who: The African Union Commission, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development

Theme: “Advancing health security and the socio-economic well-being of Africa’s population: Value of nutrition as an intervention”

Slogan:  Nutrition for Socio-Economic Development

Objectives:

The objectives of the STC-HPDC-4 are:

1. To discuss and consider key documents on priority areas in health, nutrition, population, drug control, and crime prevention that will improve the health security and socio-economic well-being of Africa’s population
2. To review progress on the implementation of continental policies, strategies, programmes and decisions in health, nutrition, population, drug control and crime prevention.
3. To identify areas of cooperation and establish mechanisms for regional, continental and global cooperation.
4. To elaborate on Common African Positions in its health, nutrition, population, drug control and crime prevention, and advise relevant AU policy organs on priority programmes and their impact on improving lives.

Expected Outputs

1. Enlisted political commitment by respective Ministers towards the implementation of key policies in health, nutrition, population, drug control and crime prevention
2. Clear and robust policies of strengthening Africa’s health nutrition, population, drug control and crime prevention outcomes
3. Policy recommendations to harness the health security and socio-economic well-being of Africa’s population

The STC–HPDC-4 will convene Senior Experts from 30 May to 1 June 2022 and later Ministers following the indefinite postponement from last year as the quorum of the meeting had not been achieved.

Participation at the STC-HPDC-4

Participants will be from the Ministries of Health, Nutrition, population and Drug Control. Other participants will include experts and senior officials from the African Union Organs and Specialized Institutions and Agencies. Simultaneous interpretation and translation of relevant documents will be provided in the five (5) working languages of the African Union: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.  Official invitations will be sent out from the Commission beforehand.   

About the Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control (STC-HPDC-4)

The Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control (STC-HPDC), is one of fourteen (14) STCs, defined as an Organ of the African Union in accordance with Article 5 (1) (g) of the AU Constitutive Act.  The STC on Health, Population and Drug Control meets once every two (2) years. 

The STC–HPDC brings together Ministers in charge of Health, Population and Drug Control, and government Experts responsible for the sectors concerned, AU Organs such as the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Regional Economic Communities. International Organizations working in the relevant areas of concern will be invited to the opening and closing sessions.  

The Ministerial segment of the STC will be preceded by the Experts meeting that will discuss priority health, population and drug control policy issues and the implications for the member states, regions and the continent as a whole. The outcomes of the Experts shall be considered by respective line Ministers for policy direction and adoption. Given the need to strengthen the health systems in Africa, this STC meeting is crucial for the Ministers to discuss and agree on the way forward on critical health, population and drug control policy issues.

For more information, please contact:   

Dr. Margaret Agama-Anyetei, Ag. Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs Directorate, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission | Email: Agama-Anyeteim@africa-union.org; CC :  BenjaminD@africa-union.org;

For further media inquiries, please contact:

1. Ms. Dorothy Njagi | Strategic Communication Expert, Directorate of Health and Humanitarian Affairs | Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development,, African Union Commission | Mobile: +251940559950 | E-mail: njagid@africa-union.org
2. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube