Date: 05/09/2003
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Closing ceremony of 53rd Session of WHO Regional Committee for Africa
SPEECH BY THE SA MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 53RD SESSION OF THE WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA, Johannesburg, 5 September 2003
Honourable Ministers and heads of delegation,
The Regional Director and your staff,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen
Today we bring to an end this 53rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. We have once again had a successful meeting as Ministers of Health and delegates from all over our continent.
As I mentioned last night, the questions that arise as we leave Johannesburg are as follows:
* Do we now have a better sense now of the health challenges facing our people?
* Have we conceptualised strategies to respond to these challenges?
* Will we be in a position to advise our Heads of State and Government appropriately?
Presentations made at this meeting spelt out some of the challenges facing us as the health sector.
We noted that hospitals remain critical centres for referral care, the development of human resources and appropriate and relevant research that addresses challenges of health care delivery. The development of our hospitals requires government stewardship and community participation, improved financing mechanisms and should be guided by the need for quality health care and improved health systems.
We discussed the devastating impact of armed conflicts and interpersonal violence including violence against women and children. Our mortality rate from road traffic accident injuries cost the region more than US$ 7 billion (1% of our GDP) with young economically active males accounting for the largest number of victims.
We also discussed human resources, the high maternal mortality rate, the scaling up of interventions related to HIV and AIDS, TB, and malaria, macroeconomics and health, and the NEPAD Health Strategy.
Honourable Ministers, distinguished delegates, human resources are the most important resource required for the success of our interventions. Yet, this is one of the most scarce resources in the African region. One of the major contributing factors is the migration of health personnel. Globalisation has accelerated the rate of migration of health workers in the past few years to such an extent that it can no longer be ignored by the developing world, particularly the African region. This meeting has heard country after country relating its challenges and experiences with regard to the brain drain.
We note the progress that has been made towards addressing this challenge through our resolve not only to identify the causes of migration but also to tackle them head on. We also agreed to table a resolution on this matter to the 57th session of the World Health Assembly next year. This resolution should include issues such as government-to-government agreements and compensation for developing countries.
We resolved to prioritise women's health and ensure that our health systems respond adequately to the needs of particularly pregnant women. We cannot accept that while we constitute 12% of the world population and only 17% of the global annual birth, Africa should account for almost half of the 600 000 pregnancy related deaths recorded worldwide. These deaths are attributed mainly to complications during and after delivery, sepsis, unsafe abortion and hypertension. The issue of access to health care for women becomes critical as most of these deaths can be averted through timely access to appropriate obstetric emergency care.
The notification of and enquiry into maternal deaths should be our initial step towards the prevention of the premature and unnecessary loss of women's lives. Data from such inquiries is critical in determining appropriate interventions in improving our health services particularly for women and children.
We also resolved to scale up our interventions on HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, through, among others, allocating increased national resources for activities to fight these diseases, promoting research on traditional medicines, and making drugs, diagnostic tools and other commodities accessible and affordable. We noted the request to address issues of the quality of medicines. On the matter of HIV and AIDS and drugs, I would like to quote a statement made by Dr Lee, the Director-General on WHO, that, (I quote) " If all the money and all the drugs are available today, that will not solve our problem because they will not be delivered." (Unquote).
He further went on to say, I quote, "There are simply not enough doctors, nurses and infrastructure. It is very misleading (to say) that it is a lack of drugs that is making this crisis worse." Unquote. The provision of drugs is thus not a simple task and should be adequately assessed and monitored, and we should ensure that our health systems can provide sustainable treatment to our people.
We also discussed the need to address the conditions of poverty and malnutrition that make our populations more vulnerable to HIV infection and succumb to AIDS and TB. We noted that issues of food insecurity, malnutrition and underdevelopment remain a priority for us in this continent. We must therefore lobby for nutritional support and intensify our efforts to achieve our goals with regard to poverty alleviation.
The capacity of our health systems to respond to our health challenges remains a major area of concern. As we close this session, we should resolve to enhance our efforts to lobby for more and sustainable resources for health. The commitment by our Heads of State and Government in Abuja, that 15% of national budgets be allocated to the improvement of health services is laudable, but is still to be realised. It is our duty to advocate for more national and global investment and to improve our capacity to absorb these resources.
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration, we should heed the call made at this meeting to commit ourselves to the renewal of Primary Health Care as a pillar of our interventions, if we are to reach the targets set in the Millennium Development Goals. We look forward to a regional meeting to review implementation of primary health care as agreed in this session of the regional committee.
We are also committed to the implementation of NEPAD, and acknowledge the support of our Heads of State and Government in putting health high on Africa's political agenda. Indeed, there cannot be any development without health. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) gives us an opportunity to work together as Africans and approach the world as equal partners in addressing health challenges. This meeting took us a step forward through the presentation of the NEPAD health programme of action and projects.
Another historic decision taken at this meeting was the approval by this Committee that we explore sub- regional representation of African countries on the WHO Executive Board, and the establishment of a Task Team to make proposals on how this can be implemented. I thank my colleagues, the Ministers of Health, for having the foresight and vision to allow us to explore this option. I know it will not be an easy task to make specific proposals on this, as some countries do not belong to regional economic blocks. The interests of such countries should thus be well catered for in the final proposal that will be presented to us in May next year.
Regional Director, as Chairperson of the 53rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, I would like to commit the Government of South Africa and myself, the Minister of Health of South Africa, to be of service to this Regional Committee. I undertake, on behalf of my Government, to fulfil all the obligations attached to this position until the 54th Session of the Regional Committee. Regional Director, do not, therefore, hesitate to call upon my Ministry and me if and when the need arises.
To my colleagues, the Ministers of Health of the WHO AFRO Region, and your delegations. It has been a pleasure to have you in South Africa. The contributions you made at this meeting were of a very high standard indeed and I thank you for making it a success.
I wish you all a safe journey home, and I now declare the 53rd Session of the Regional Committee for Africa closed.
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: Closing ceremony of 53rd Session of WHO Regional Committee for Africa
SPEECH BY THE SA MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG, AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 53RD SESSION OF THE WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA, Johannesburg, 5 September 2003
Honourable Ministers and heads of delegation,
The Regional Director and your staff,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen
Today we bring to an end this 53rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa. We have once again had a successful meeting as Ministers of Health and delegates from all over our continent.
As I mentioned last night, the questions that arise as we leave Johannesburg are as follows:
* Do we now have a better sense now of the health challenges facing our people?
* Have we conceptualised strategies to respond to these challenges?
* Will we be in a position to advise our Heads of State and Government appropriately?
Presentations made at this meeting spelt out some of the challenges facing us as the health sector.
We noted that hospitals remain critical centres for referral care, the development of human resources and appropriate and relevant research that addresses challenges of health care delivery. The development of our hospitals requires government stewardship and community participation, improved financing mechanisms and should be guided by the need for quality health care and improved health systems.
We discussed the devastating impact of armed conflicts and interpersonal violence including violence against women and children. Our mortality rate from road traffic accident injuries cost the region more than US$ 7 billion (1% of our GDP) with young economically active males accounting for the largest number of victims.
We also discussed human resources, the high maternal mortality rate, the scaling up of interventions related to HIV and AIDS, TB, and malaria, macroeconomics and health, and the NEPAD Health Strategy.
Honourable Ministers, distinguished delegates, human resources are the most important resource required for the success of our interventions. Yet, this is one of the most scarce resources in the African region. One of the major contributing factors is the migration of health personnel. Globalisation has accelerated the rate of migration of health workers in the past few years to such an extent that it can no longer be ignored by the developing world, particularly the African region. This meeting has heard country after country relating its challenges and experiences with regard to the brain drain.
We note the progress that has been made towards addressing this challenge through our resolve not only to identify the causes of migration but also to tackle them head on. We also agreed to table a resolution on this matter to the 57th session of the World Health Assembly next year. This resolution should include issues such as government-to-government agreements and compensation for developing countries.
We resolved to prioritise women's health and ensure that our health systems respond adequately to the needs of particularly pregnant women. We cannot accept that while we constitute 12% of the world population and only 17% of the global annual birth, Africa should account for almost half of the 600 000 pregnancy related deaths recorded worldwide. These deaths are attributed mainly to complications during and after delivery, sepsis, unsafe abortion and hypertension. The issue of access to health care for women becomes critical as most of these deaths can be averted through timely access to appropriate obstetric emergency care.
The notification of and enquiry into maternal deaths should be our initial step towards the prevention of the premature and unnecessary loss of women's lives. Data from such inquiries is critical in determining appropriate interventions in improving our health services particularly for women and children.
We also resolved to scale up our interventions on HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, through, among others, allocating increased national resources for activities to fight these diseases, promoting research on traditional medicines, and making drugs, diagnostic tools and other commodities accessible and affordable. We noted the request to address issues of the quality of medicines. On the matter of HIV and AIDS and drugs, I would like to quote a statement made by Dr Lee, the Director-General on WHO, that, (I quote) " If all the money and all the drugs are available today, that will not solve our problem because they will not be delivered." (Unquote).
He further went on to say, I quote, "There are simply not enough doctors, nurses and infrastructure. It is very misleading (to say) that it is a lack of drugs that is making this crisis worse." Unquote. The provision of drugs is thus not a simple task and should be adequately assessed and monitored, and we should ensure that our health systems can provide sustainable treatment to our people.
We also discussed the need to address the conditions of poverty and malnutrition that make our populations more vulnerable to HIV infection and succumb to AIDS and TB. We noted that issues of food insecurity, malnutrition and underdevelopment remain a priority for us in this continent. We must therefore lobby for nutritional support and intensify our efforts to achieve our goals with regard to poverty alleviation.
The capacity of our health systems to respond to our health challenges remains a major area of concern. As we close this session, we should resolve to enhance our efforts to lobby for more and sustainable resources for health. The commitment by our Heads of State and Government in Abuja, that 15% of national budgets be allocated to the improvement of health services is laudable, but is still to be realised. It is our duty to advocate for more national and global investment and to improve our capacity to absorb these resources.
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration, we should heed the call made at this meeting to commit ourselves to the renewal of Primary Health Care as a pillar of our interventions, if we are to reach the targets set in the Millennium Development Goals. We look forward to a regional meeting to review implementation of primary health care as agreed in this session of the regional committee.
We are also committed to the implementation of NEPAD, and acknowledge the support of our Heads of State and Government in putting health high on Africa's political agenda. Indeed, there cannot be any development without health. The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) gives us an opportunity to work together as Africans and approach the world as equal partners in addressing health challenges. This meeting took us a step forward through the presentation of the NEPAD health programme of action and projects.
Another historic decision taken at this meeting was the approval by this Committee that we explore sub- regional representation of African countries on the WHO Executive Board, and the establishment of a Task Team to make proposals on how this can be implemented. I thank my colleagues, the Ministers of Health, for having the foresight and vision to allow us to explore this option. I know it will not be an easy task to make specific proposals on this, as some countries do not belong to regional economic blocks. The interests of such countries should thus be well catered for in the final proposal that will be presented to us in May next year.
Regional Director, as Chairperson of the 53rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, I would like to commit the Government of South Africa and myself, the Minister of Health of South Africa, to be of service to this Regional Committee. I undertake, on behalf of my Government, to fulfil all the obligations attached to this position until the 54th Session of the Regional Committee. Regional Director, do not, therefore, hesitate to call upon my Ministry and me if and when the need arises.
To my colleagues, the Ministers of Health of the WHO AFRO Region, and your delegations. It has been a pleasure to have you in South Africa. The contributions you made at this meeting were of a very high standard indeed and I thank you for making it a success.
I wish you all a safe journey home, and I now declare the 53rd Session of the Regional Committee for Africa closed.
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
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