Events

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2 April 2015- Ahead of the operationalisation of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in July 2015 African and Chinese officials met from 26 to 28 March 2015 in Beijing, China to discuss strengthened health collaboration. The roundtable endorsed policy recommendations on disease control and prevention including ways to engage new partners and build strong health systems. The meeting particularly focused on ways to support the African CDC’s continent-wide work in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response.

“We deliberated on a set of policy recommendations that we will consider at this year’s ministerial gathering where we will call for strengthened dialogue between China and African countries” said Dr.

Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, the Commissioner for Social Affairs at the African Union Commission, “the roundtable committed to tailoring Chinese support to African health priorities and increased Chinese and African investments in health” he added.

The key policy recommendations from the roundtable include strengthening health collaboration between China and Africa governments. The meeting further recommended collaboration in the development of resilient and sustainable health systems to support the goal to reach universal health coverage, provision of adequate healthcare and financial protection of all citizens. African and Chinese pharmaceutical companies and the China Chamber of Commerce for Imports and Export of Medicines and Health Products were urged to explore the means of collaboration including joint ventures, technology transfers and shared industrial parks.

The historical cooperation between China and Africa on health has reached another level with the recent China response to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa. The China CDC is strongly committed to support Africa in strengthening health systems in particular its establishment of the African CDC, in line with the AU heads of State and Government decisions. Towards that end a team of three experts from Chinese CDC will be attending the April African CDC taskforce meeting on the sidelines of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug control taking place from 13 to 17 April 2015. The Chines experts will subsequently be seconded to the AU for one month to provide further technical support.

The AU Assembly in its Decision Assembly/AU/Dec. 554(XXIV) of January 2015 formally endorsed the establishment of the African CDC and “expressed immense satisfaction for efforts made by the Commission to speed up the process for the establishment of the Centre by mid-2015, pursuant to the relevant Executive Council and Assembly decisions”.

As part of their official visit African Union officials also attended a seven days study visit on the operation of disease control and prevention system and the International Conference on Ebola.
Commitments to building strong health systems from African Union and partners have led to significant progress across the continent. This includes the dramatic reduction in malaria deaths, a decline in HIV incidence and renewed efforts to get maternal health services to those in hard-to-reach areas. International aid from donors has traditionally complemented these efforts, but new and innovative partnerships are becoming increasingly important, specifically with other countries in the Global South. South-to-South cooperation allows African countries to exchange experiences and expertise with other countries that have faced similar health challenges, and that share similar health goals.

For media inquiries contact:
Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Tawanda Chisango | Social Affairs | African Union Commission |Tel: +251115182029 | E-mail: Chisangot@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int |Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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ROUNDTABLE ON INTRA-REGIONAL MIGRATION AND LABOUR MOBILITY WITHIN AFRICA
JOINT PRESS RELEASE

The Roundtable on intra-regional migration and labour mobility in Africa kicked off today urging member States to focus on migration for better integration and inclusive development of the continent

KIGALI, 23 March 2015- The Roundtable on intra-regional migration and labour mobility within Africa kicked off today, 23rd March 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda. This joint initiative is held under the theme “Enhancing capacities of RECs and member States to facilitate Intra-Regional Migration and Labour Mobility for Regional Integration and Economic Cooperation”. In her statement as Chair of the opening ceremony, Treasure Thembisile Maphanga, Director of Trade and Industry at the African Union Commission (AUC), recalled the vision of the Abuja Treaty of an African Economic Community with free movement of persons, goods, services and capital. She highlighted a number of policy initiatives on Migration and Labour Mobility that have been adopted by the AUC, including the Migration Policy Framework for Africa; Minimum Integration Programme and Action Plan for Boosting intra African Trade (BIAT). The launching of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by June 2015 is a great opportunity for the continent in the sense of the revitalization of Labour mobility.

Speaking on behalf of the African Union Commission, Dr. Khabele Matlosa, AUC Director of Political Affairs underscored the fact that historically, Africa is a region of migrants. Indeed, “the development and regional integration story of Africa is essentially the story of internal (intra-state) and external (inter-state) migration patterns”, he said. However, for migration to be a catalyst of regional integration and economic cooperation in Africa, “it is imperative that the African Union develops a Protocol on free Movement of persons, the Right of Residence and the Right of establishment as provided for in Article 43 of the 1991 Abuja Treaty”, he concluded.

H.E. Ambassador Sammie Pesky Eddico, Chairman of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) Council and Ghana Permanent representative to the UN in Geneva pointed out that migration forms an integral part of the economic development process in Africa. The experiences of ECOWAS and EAC economic communities testify that free movement of persons and goods have positive effects on economic development, and called on Member States to ratify existing regional instruments on free movement. He underscored the need for the AU Assembly to encourage member states that are yet to ratify the existing protocols on free movement of persons to do within a specific timeline. He also proposed that the ratification of protocols on free movement of persons be considered with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Regional Director for Africa, represented by Mr. Alexio Musindo, ILO Director Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda focused on Labour Migration as a core component of the ILO’s mandate for social justice. Accordingly, this meeting provides an excellent opportunity for Africa to address key labour migration issues including promoting regional social dialogue on labour migration, strengthening institutional capacity to improve labour migration governance as well as the portability of social security benefits. He reiterated his commitment to continue to champion the exemplary AUC/ILO/IOM/ECA Joint Labour Migration Programme. He took also the opportunity to urge African states on Member states to ratify ILO conventions N0 97 and 143 on the protection of migrant workers and the governance of labour migration.

In the same view, the Director General of IOM, Amb. William Lacy Swing, emphasised on the necessity for this roundtable to demystify the “myth” or “fear factor” about facilitating free movement of people within the continent. It is in that regard that he proposed the Paradigm of the 3Ps in order to protect, promote and prioritize migration and mobility as powerful drivers of sustainable development in Africa. “But above all, you have a fundamental role in promoting human rights of migrants and the fact that the respect of rights needs to take a central stage, both as end and as condition, for harnessing the benefits of migration for the development of migrants and societies.”, he recalled to the participants.

The representative of the EU delegation to Rwanda, H.E Ambassador Michael Ryan, welcomed the adoption of the Joint Labour Migration Programme and underscored the willingness of EU to assist Africa for a better governance framework on migration.
Mr Silvio Fluckiger, Deputy regional Director of Swiss Cooperation declared that meeting should be a turning point in changing perceptions on migration issues. Indeed, “Migrants cannot simply be viewed as economic commodities to address labour market gaps or demographic needs. Migration is about both, economic and human development.”, He noticed.

Officially opening the ceremony, Hon Venantia Tugireyezu, Minister in the Office of the President of Rwanda, underlined the urgency to fast track different projects facilitating regional integration. The meeting represents therefore an opportunity to identify mechanisms in order to address different challenges in this regard.
The opening ceremony ended with a presentation of the Labour Migration Governance for Development and Integration in Africa Initiative (commonly referred to as the Joint Labour Migration Programme) by Mrs Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, UN CO-Chair of the Employment and Labour Cluster. The Joint Labour Migration Programme aims to strengthen effective governance and regulation of labour migration and mobility in Africa under the rule of law with involvement of stakeholders; including the employers of labour, organisation of workers and migrants. She emphasised that the JLMP constitutes a major contribution to obtaining the development potential of labour and skills mobility in Africa for migrants as well as receiving and sending countries

It is worth recalling that this meeting is a joint initiative of the AUC/ILO/IOM/ECA. The main objective is to improve the awareness and understanding of the benefits that migration and labour mobility bring to countries of origin, transit and destination as well as migrants themselves.
For more information, please contact:
- Philip Bob JUSU |Migration Officer| Department of Social Affairs| Tel: +251115182216 /+250783810727 E-mail: Jusup@africa-union.org
- Jerry Laurence Lemogo| Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: +251929188440 | E-mail: Laurencej@africa-union.org
- Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Chief of regional Programming Unit, International Labour Organisation, Email: Samuel-olonjuwon@ilo.org, Tel: +251115445545
- Guebray Berhane, Senior Communications Officer, ILO Regional Office Email: Berhane@ilo.org
- Josiah OGINA, Chief of Mission-Ethiopia and Representative to AU/ECA/IGAD, Email: jogina@iom.int, Tel: +251116611133

DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

PRESS RELEASE Nº062/2015

African Union celebrates the 7th Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day under the theme “Tobacco Free Environment Starts with You”

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 12 March 2015: African Union Medical Services Directorate in collaboration with the Department of Social Affairs and other stakeholders today commemorated the 7th Africa Healthy Lifestyle Day under the theme “Tobacco-free environment start with you” at the African Union Commission Headquarters. The celebration brought together different stakeholders different stakeholders from World Health organization (WHO), Civil Society and students.

In his welcoming remarks, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Erastus Mwencha pointed out the necessity for Africa to protect human resources, the most important resource that a continent can have. Through the observance of a healthy life style, African citizens can preserve their health and participate fully in development process that will lead us to the Africa we want. He also underlined the commitment of African Union to bring an Africa free of Tobacco. “The commitment was started in 1999 and intensified in the following years, leading to a unified voice in Africa committing to tobacco control and improved public health”, said Mr Erastus Mwencha. “This is time for action. Africa must show leadership in ensuring that the present tide is reversed and that the next generation will suffer less from harmful effects of tobacco”, he concluded.

In his statement, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs reiterated the Deputy Chairpersons’ remarks on a tobacco free Africa saying that planning for the Africa we want as stipulated on the Agenda 2063 has sited the effects of smoking which needs to be improved at the very onset of the 50 years target. Though highlighting that Africa has continued to record persistent increase in the valence of smoking, Kaloko underscored that Tobacco use is arguably the single most avoidable cause of death in the global society and the most important public health issue of our time. “The Challenge posed by tobacco to health and socio-economic development gravely threatens our future, therefore, it is essential to formulate a clear response in order to protect human health and to ensure that it is placed at the center of our strides in combating the avoidable health and socio-economic consequences of tobacco use.”

Commissioner Kaloko also put emphasis on smoking among young people saying it needs to be addressed and early messages should be sent about the devastating consequences of smoking. “We know that most of them start smoking when they are as young as 8 years. Therefore there is a need to impart clear messages to children when they are still in primary school on the magnitude of the effects of smoking.”

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco is one of the primary causes of preventable deaths in the world. About six million are currently estimated to die annually from tobacco use, with over 600 000 deaths due to exposure to second-hand smoke. In Africa, tobacco-attributable mortality is currently around 3%.

Africa Healthy Lifestyle day is celebrated on the last Friday of February each year This day was adopted by the Executive Council in July 2008 within the framework of the World Health Organization strategy for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases through awareness raising and communication activities. The event ended with award of certificates to the Participants by the Director of AU Medical Services Dr. Yankuba Gassama.

YA/JL

For further information contact

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

ASEOWA WILL SUPPORT RESTORATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES– ASEOWA HEAD OF MISSION

Wednesday 18th February, 2015 – The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) has renewed its commitment to end the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Speaking from Guinea, the ASEOWA Head of Mission, Major General Julius Oketta said, “In the spirit of pan-Africanism and African solidarity, we are committed to saving lives. Our mission is to work selflessly with the governments and the populations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone respectively until the World Health Organization (WHO) declares all the three countries free from the Ebola Virus Disease”. He added that, “ASEOWA will support the transition from the Ebola crisis into the post Ebola phase, restoring public health services and infrastructure in the affected countries”.

In addition to managing Ebola Treatment Units (ETU) in all three countries, the ASEOWA mission is training local clinicians, epidemiologists and other paramedical staff working towards the eradication of the epidemic. “We are also providing support on social mobilization and psycho-social issues, in order to remove resistance and win the hearts of communities”.

According to the Deputy Head of Mission in Guinea, Dr Aguide Soumouk, “The African Union is at the service of the Guinean government and population, and we are determined to work until there is no case of Ebola in the country”.

It must be noted that the African Union is co-managing the ETU in Coyah. According to Dr. Dally Muamba, based in Coyah, “We have discharged thirty (30) Ebola survivors since the opening of the treatment unit, on 31st December, 2014”. The African Union has also contributed two (2) air conditioners for the proper functioning of the laboratory in the ETU in Coyah.

Since November 2014, the African Union has deployed over one hundred and twenty medical and paramedical professionals in Guinea; many of whom are presently working in eleven prefectures across the country. On 17th February, 2015, the ASEOWA Head of Mission paid working visits to the Minister of Health and to the WHO representative in Guinea. He also visited the ETU in Coyah to give moral support to the health workers. “Continue to save lives and to stay safe”, he said, “We are proud to say that none of our staff has been infected since ASEOWA began its operations in affected countries in September 2014”.

For more information:
Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Paschal Chem-Langhee,
Public Information and Communication Officer,
The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA),
Conakry, Guinea.
Website: http://pages.au.int/ebola
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AUonEbola
Twitter: #AUonEbola, #UnitedAgainstEbola

23 South African health workers to be deployed to treat Ebola in Sierra Leone under ASEOWA

Johannesburg, 12 February 2015: The African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA), in collaboration with the South African government, is sending 23 South African health workers to Ebola affected countries. The health workers, including 20 nurses, and three paramedics are expected to depart Johannesburg for Sierra Leone on Friday, 20 February 2015.

From 11th to 12th February, the health workers underwent 2 days of pre deployment training given by the African Union and Ministry of Health officials. On arrival in the affected countries, the health workers will undergo further intensive training for 2 weeks before embarking on their duties.

African Union Commissioner of Social Affairs, Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko commended the South African government for sending health workers, saying that the 835 African medical personnel so far deployed by ASEOWA have impacted positively in reducing both new infections and deaths from Ebola.
“We are very proud that, together with the governments of AU member states, we are finding solutions to African challenges by Africans. By representing South Africa on the mission, you will also be representing the African Union and Africa in general. I am very sure that you will acquit yourselves very well and continue to make a positive impact.”

This deployment is the second for South Africa, following an independent deployment on January 23. The first group is stationed at the Goderich Emergency Ebola Treatment Centre on the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone. Since their arrival, the South Africans have already seen six discharges and lost two patients. One 36 year old man was a typical patient. He arrived with a confirmed Ebola diagnosis. He began treatment and then “crashed” as often happens, but treatment was successful. He recovered and was released, walking out on his own. The youngest patient so far has been a four year old boy. He has been moved from the ICU and is now recovering.

The healthcare professionals stay in country for 6 months of service in AU supported treatment sites and when they return to South Africa they will undergo three weeks of observation before they can resume normal duties.

According to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, “Whilst thankfully Ebola cases are decreasing, the South African effort implemented by Right to Care and supported by South African business and the African Union are able to address Ebola ‘fatigue’. South Africa’s involvement which began last year has been extensive and has included mobilising both a domestic response to prevent the entry of Ebola into South Africa as well as an external health and humanitarian assistance programme to support affected countries. The Department of Health mobilised cash and in-kind contributions amounting to almost R60 million. This has included setting up a NICD diagnostic laboratory which has tested more than 6000 specimens of those suspected of Ebola infection. The laboratory teams rotate every 5 weeks and are also training local personnel. We have also provided 16 000 protection suits and we have sent ambulances, scooters, drugs, generators, autoclaves for sterilisation and food.

Minister Motsoaledi concluded “South Africa can be very proud of our courageous health care workers and all those that have supported the Ebola response, as they assist fellow Africans to win the fight against Ebola.”

According to Prof Ian Sanne of Right to Care, “Team South Africa are on duty for long shifts each day; some of the time in full protective clothing and other times working in the lab or fulfilling other duties. They are learning to treat a highly infectious disease effectively. The knowledge they gain will be useful in knowing how to better treat other crisis outbreaks.”

African Union Director of Social Affairs, Dr Olawale Maiyegun summarised the ASEOWA intervention as follows: “the most important and effective intervention with significant impact is the decreasing cases. ASEOWA has made a huge difference. Before their intervention, Ebola was chasing us, thanks to ASEOWA, we are now chasing Ebola. It is just a matter of time, Ebola shall be defeated.”

As part of its obligations to the health workers, ASEOWA will provide the medical professionals with an allowance, full training, insurance and housing and will take care of them should they contract Ebola. FirstRand Bank (FNB) has committed to paying for transport, flights and transfers for this medical intervention.

There are four partners working on South Africa’s response to Ebola under the leadership of the Department of Health. They are Right to Care which has an MoU with the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone, the Wits Health Consortium which is overseeing and managing funds from the private sector on behalf of the Department of Health and the NICD which has set up labs in Sierra Leone, is providing training and has a number of staff there.

The current deployment is being undertaken under the African Union’s Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA). The African Union will maintain the health workers on the ground till the countries are declared Ebola free. ENDS

For more information:
Wynne Musabayana
Deputy Head of Communication and Information
African Union Commission
E mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org

Joe Maila
Ministry of Health: Spokesperson
Mobile: 082 887 3581
Email: mailaj@health.gov.za or health.spokesperson@gmail.com
Twitter: @mjmaila@HealthZa

Michelle K Blumenau
Right to Care
T 011 728 5004 /083 273 9891
michelle@turquoisepr.co.za