Closing Remarks by H.E. Dr. Mustapha S. Kaloko,
Commissioner for Social Affairs at The International Conference on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health in Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, 03 August 2013

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Protocol
For three consecutive days, we have had the opportunity to meet in parallel and plenary sessions in the halls of this facility. For three successive days, we have had the privilege to learn from member states as well as from our various partners that conscious and determined efforts on our part can make a difference in the lives of both mother and child.
We have also agreed these past days that tremendous gains have been made in the last two decades to reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality rates on the continent. At the same time, we have not failed to admit that those gains have not been considerable enough to meet the required targets of the MDGs. Not meeting the targets of the MDGs, we have all concurred, has not been for lack of adequate policy prescriptions or paucity of ideas, decisions, declarations and frameworks. To the contrary, we have had enough of them and have never been in short supply. What we have perhaps lacked has been the impetus to ensure more action on the ground and to implement what we already have.
It was against this background that this conference was initially conceived: to work toward consummating the gains we have made, to strive together to ensure that the tangibles and deliverables are right where they are needed and to map out together a pragmatic and a focused strategy or action-oriented plan to end the woes, the pains and to sorrows of a mother losing her child or yet still, that same mother going through terrible nightmares of pains, injuries and eventual death while giving life.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
We now have an action plan and we must implement it.
We must implement it because the future of our continent, its inspirations and aspirations of greatness, at peace with itself and in control of its own destiny are hinged on our efforts to strengthen the foundation of our very existence: investing in maternal and child health.
For us in the African Union Commission, we have a strong feeling and belief that fifty years of our struggles have given us fifty years of experience. Experience of what policies have worked and what policies have failed and building on that experience, we want to make the next fifty years a different fifty years: A fifty years of victory and greatness.
This is why we have embarked on a conscious effort of consultations and diligent planning of the future of the continent, which will come out in Agenda 2063.
We must know now where we want to be in the next fifty years and we must prepare for it.
We must foresee the next fifty years from a holistic and pragmatic perspective and deal with it in like manner rather than the disjointed and distorted perspectives of the past fifty years where initiative and ownership were largely absent and where we were told how to do it, when and on what terms without our inputs.
What will aid us to prepare for it, lies first with our member states. In our experience, we have come to know too well the tremendous powers of advocacy and the remarkable force that lies in the collective political will of member states. Moreover, whenever we have had the fortitude, the focus and the conscious determination to align the powers of advocacy with the continent’s political will, we have always won
We have seen that countless times and we have had the pleasure to witness it during the last three days. We appreciate it and we must use it to our advantage in MNCH and in our holistic approach to overcome other continental challenges.
At this moment and on this podium, let me seize the opportunity to thank our member states for participating in this very important conference and for showing us the direction we should take in our future endeavours and interventions on MNCH.
On behalf of the African Union Commission, I would like to take this opportunity to express our profound thanks and sincere appreciation to His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, the Government and people of the Republic of South Africa for co-hosting this important conference with the African Union Commission; a role they have played so well during the past three days which is a picturesque demonstration of remarkable leadership and ardent political will.
To our partners, we have often emphasized in the commission that partnership at all levels is important, intrinsic and worth preserving. We have never forgotten that. Even in our bid to generate and own our own narratives, to mobilize domestic and international funding, provide lifesaving commodities, attain universal health coverage and to move beyond 2015 in the realization of our goals as will be set out in Agenda 63, we need your expertise, your collective experience, resources and guidance. For by working with you our partners, with partners who truly understand our problems, who genuinely seek to assist us as well as respect our views, cultural norms and the values we cherish, we all win.
You our partners have indeed demonstrated that many times and have followed us in our drive to reach and meet the needs of our citizens. And here in Birchwood, in this landmark conference, you have in the last three days shown the depth of that partnership by not merely joining us, but by providing the required expertise and experience in enriching and making this conference a success.
To that end, let me thank UNFPA for the efforts, the commitments and the resources mobilized to complement our own endeavours and for the success of this conference. We acknowledge with gratitude and ceaseless appreciation your endearing and enduring ambition to resolve the critical issues of MNCH on the continent. We thank DFID for their support, we also recognize and commend the enormous technical inputs of WHO and we salute them for that. We are more than grateful to UNAIDS, USAID, UNICEF, APHRH, ACHEST, SAVE THE CHILDREN, AFRIDEV, UN WOMEN, IPAS, PMNCH, SAFAIDS, ADVOCACY INTERNATIONAL, AFRICA FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE, IPPF, RBM, GAVI, RMNCH and many of our other partners who have contributed in diverse ways toward the success of this conference.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Let me remind all present, and let the message reach out to all Africans and partners, that the Mama Afrika Awards, which was launched on Thursday by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Madam Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, is here to stay. It is here to stay to serve as an impetus as well as a reward for those who have worked so hard and are still investing in MNCH. We look forward to receiving your nominations in favour of this prestigious continental award.
Finally, let me emphasize here that success in any human endeavour, is the preserve of those who persevere.
In our implementation of this Plan of Action let us stay the course with single- mindedness to see it through. Let us now return to our capitals, rural and urban communities, and for those of us in international and non-governmental organizations, civil societies and other partners, to our duty stations to ensure the implementation of our Birchwood Plan of Action.
Let us do so for the sake of our mothers, our sisters, our children and for the prosperity and future prospects of this great continent: the cradle of humanity and human civilization.
I thank you.