Just like every year, and the ninth year-round, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO), in conjunction with the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) and partners, organized a two days meeting that took place on 28 and 29 October 2020. The virtually organized meeting was equally preceded by a pre-conference on 27th essentially supported by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) with a major health focus on TB and Lung health. This seminar presented an opportunity for parliamentarians to engage with emerging evidence on TB/lung health and to explore actions they can take to champion efforts to address this issue in their countries.
Just like a few other health committee parliamentarians that came together in their respective countries, the Ugandan participants held a hybrid of both physical and online, with the physical meeting taking place at Sheraton Hotel and had their attendance streamed online.
The NEAPACOH meeting was held with the objective of sharing progress, and lessons learned regarding the implementation of the reproductive health/family planning-related commitments and building the capacity of policymakers to contribute to enhanced accountability, leadership, and stewardship for the implementation of the commitments. This first of its kind virtual meeting was lauded by participants from the different countries for being a well-organized one and the different parliaments used it to discuss, share progress and country experiences regarding implementation of the 2019 NEAPACOH country commitments and the “Kampala Call to Action” amidst the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Committee of Health Hon. Dr. Michael Bukenya presided over the proceedings of the first day while his counterpart from Niger, Hon. Mamoudou Oumarou presided over the second day’s deliberations.
Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Member of Parliament from Uganda and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development gave the official opening remarks and recognized all dignitaries present including, Hon. Dr. Michael Bukenya, the Chairperson of the Health Committee and session chair, Mr. Adnene Ben Haj Aissa, the Executive Director, PPD, Hon. Fako Moshoeshoe, the Chairperson NEAPACOH, Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, the Director-General, National Population Council, Prof. Francis Omaswa, the Key Note Speaker, the Executive Director, African Institute for Development Policy, Dr. Eria Zulu, distinguished members of Parliament and various countries participating, development partners and everyone participating in the discussion. Prof. Francis Omaswa delivered a keynote address on the topic “Improving Universal Access to Reproductive Health and Family Planning Services for achieving the ICPD PoA and the SDGs amidst the COVID 19 Pandemic”.
The meeting enabled participants from different countries across Africa to share their experiences as they fulfilled the 2019 NEAPACOH commitments. Parliamentarians shared challenges they faced which was this year predominantly the novel Coronavirus pandemic that has impacted the different states greatly. The speakers shared other initiatives that countries may adopt in the fight against the pandemic such as community engagement. There was a general outcry on the increase in teenage pregnancies in most countries owing to the restrictions set due to the COVID 19 pandemic that set countries back even when they had made great strides to eliminate this.
NEAPACOH 200 Program
1. Eng_Program NEAPACOH Meeting 2020
PRE-CONFERENCE MEETING
1. Pre-Conference NEAPACOH Meeting on TBLung Health
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
1. Remarks from Mr. Adnene Ben Haj Aissa the Executive Director PPD /PPD ARO
2. Presentation by Prof. Francis Omaswa (ACHEST)
COUNTRY PRESENTATION
1. Gambia Progress Report 2020
2. South Sudan Progress Report 2020
4. Uganda Progress Report 2020
