Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa:
“Repositioning Family Planning and Reproductive Health in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region: Challenges and Opportunities”
Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kampala, Uganda
28-29 September 2010

A number of key documents from the meeting are available online by clicking on the links below:

Resolutions, as agreed on 29 September 2010: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/resolutions.pdf

Report: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/report.pdf

Press Release for Parliamentarians in home countries:
in pdf: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/press.pdf
in Microsoft Word: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/press.doc

Programme: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/programme2010.pdf

Photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppdafrica/sets/72157625052331356/

Day One: Tuesday, September 28, 2020
Session One: Opening Session
Objectives of the Meeting by Mr. Abdelylah Lakssir, International Programme Officer, PPD ARO: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/lakssir-objectives.pdf

Opening Remarks by Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Regional Director, PPD ARO: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/musinguzi-remarks1.pdf

Opening Remarks by Mr. James Kotzsch, Country Director, DSW Uganda:

Opening Remarks by Dr. Wilfred Ochan, UNFPA Deputy Representative, Uganda:

Opening Remarks by Hon. Henry Banyenzaki (MP, Uganda) on behalf of Hon. Saudatu Sani, African Parliamentary Network on MDGs: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/banyenzaki-remarks.pdf

Opening Remarks by Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chairperson, SEAPACOH:

Opening Remarks by Hon. Dr. Stephen Mallinga, Minister of Health, Uganda: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/mallinga-remarks.pdf

Official Opening by Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Deputy Speaker, Parliament of Uganda: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/kadaga-opening.pdf

Session Two: Reproductive Health, Population and Development in the Region
Population and Reproductive Health Challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa: Policy and Program Implications by Dr. Eliya Msiyaphazi Zulu, PhD., Director, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP): http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/zulu.pdf

Maputo Plan of Action and CARMMA: Reflections on the Performance of African Countries by Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Uganda: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/ochan-MaputoPoA.pdf
http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/ochan-CARMMA.pdf

Gender and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights: A Key Factor to Successful Programmes, by Prof. Grace Bantebya, Senior Lecturer, Makerere University: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/bantebya.pdf

Session Three: Repositioning Family Planning in the Region: Challenges and Opportunities
Achieving the MDGs: The Contribution of Family Planning by Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Assistant Representative, UNFPA Uganda: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/ochan-mdgsfp.pdf

The contribution of Family Planning in achieving the MDGs in Kenya by Mr. Chaacha Mwita, Policy Engagement Manager, Africa Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/mwita.pdf

Family Planning in Rwanda: How Family Planning Became a Priority and a Success Story by Mr. Emile Sempabwa, Policy and Development Director, IntraHealth International, Rwanda:
Presentation: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/sempabwa1.pdf
Summary: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/sempabwa2.pdf
Read the full report by IntraHealth here: http://www.intrahealth.org/files/media/5/fp_in_Rwanda.pdf or http://ppdafrica.org/docs/SEAPACOH2010/fpRwanda.pdf

As a follow up to the strategic plan and to the 2008 Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa which was held in Kampala, Uganda, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in collaboration with the Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) under the auspices of the Southern and Eastern African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees on Health (SEAPACOH), jointly organized a meeting in Kampala, Uganda on 21 September 2009. The meeting was held prior to the Third EQUINET Regional Conference 23-25 September 2009 that a number of committee representatives also attended and that provided an opportunity to link parliaments with the wider community and resources involved in work on health equity in the region.

During this September 2009 follow up meeting, SEAPACOH met to report back on progress made over the past year, as well as to promote information exchange, facilitate policy dialogue and identify key areas of follow up action to advance health equity and sexual and reproductive health in the region.

During the report-back sessions where Parliamentarians had the opportunities to share information on their progress, challenges, and way forward, it was noted that critical progress by MPs was registered since September 2008. For example,

• •    The East Africa Legislative Assembly have developed model laws on HIV/AIDS and FGM and is working to develop pool procurement of drug, medical supplies and medical equipment; health insurance schemes, and exploring contracted health workers as opposed to salaried payroll, as part of a larger focus on examining value for money.
• •    In Kenya, the Parliament is focusing on proper scrutiny of the Executive budget through interrogating line ministries’ budgets; they have also pushed forward a economic stimulus package, which provisions for the constitution of model health centers across the country and the hiring of 20 nurses per constituency. Kenya has also established a parliamentary taskforce to look into, monitor and oversee action on the socio-economic inequalities, including inequality in health and access to health care; sensitized fellow MPs and communicated with Ministers of Health and Finance; and enacted a law involving the Health Committee in the budget process.
• •    In Malawi, Parliamentarians have moved a motion to persuade the government to come up with legislation to govern research activities and prevent abuse of citizens in clinical research trials, such as for microbicides and PMTCT.
• •    Namibia’s Committee on Human Resources, Social and Community Development were trained in gender based violence, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS in July 2009; undertook field visits to assess the implementation of government policies and programmes with regard to health and education issues; and revised and costed the national roadmap that outlines strategies and guidelines for improving maternal and child health as well as acceralating the reduction morbidity and mortality in 2009.
• •    The Parliament of Swaziland has done capacity building on sexual and reproductive health for members; members have moved several motions, including accessibility of health services, investigations on increase of abortions among young people, and investigation on the late increase on maternal mortality rates.
• •    In Uganda, Parliamentarians have engaged Ministries of Health and Finance and the media on the need to fund sexual and reproductive health issues; recommended policy changes in the management and administration of the budget for drugs including RH commodities; allocated additional resources for RH including HIV/AIDS; successfully advocated for a budget line of 200 million Uganda shillings for activities to address female genital mutilation (FGM); prepared and presented a private member’s bill entitled “The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Bill, 2009; and conducted capacity-building activities.
• •    In Zimbabwe, the Parliament has tabled a motion on the need to link sexual and reproductive health and HIV programmes and policies that address vulnerabilities  of women and children; lobbied for the provision of appropriate, affordable, accessible and friendly adolescent and reproductive health services; are currently crafting of policy on male circumcision as one of the added strategies to reduce HIV infection; and conducted research including: 2008-A Rapid Assessment of ASRH Services in Zimbabwe; 2007-9-The Zimbabwe Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Study; 2009-An Assessment of Obstetric Fistula in Zimbabwe; 2009-An Assessment of Waiting Mothers’ Shelters in Zimbabwe.

Detailed information on country progress, as well as the full meeting report is available online at: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/report.pdf

By the close of the meeting, Parliamentarians agreed to a Way Forward over the next year, including work to operationalize the SEAPACOH Strategic Plan; provide oversight on regional commitments and international agreements; and to support new and innovative programmes to enhance health, RH, FP, population and development, including spraying for DDT according to WHO recommendations. The full document detailing their commitments is available online at: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/finalcommitments.pdf

Presentations made by a number of speakers during the meeting are available online:
Opening Session:
“Opening Remarks,” Dr. Jotham Musinguzi, Regional Director, PPD ARO: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/musinguzi.pdf
“Opening Remarks,” Dr. Eliya Zulu, Deputy Executive Director, APHRC: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/zulu.pdf
“Opening Remarks,” Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chair, SEAPACOH: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/chebundo.pdf
“Opening Remarks,”: Hon. Dr. Stephen Mallinga, Minister of Health, Government of Uganda: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/mallinga.pdf

Session One:
“Addressing Reproductive Health and Other Health Challenges in Africa,” Dr. Eliya Zulu, APHRC: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/zulu2.pdf
“Findings of the Regional Survey of Parliaments and Implications for Strengthening Parliamentary Work,” Dr. Rene Loewenson, EQUINET:  http://www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/DIS73parlgen09.pdf

Session Two:
“Review of SEAPACOH activities, challenges and way forward,” Hon. Blessing Chebundo, Chairperson, SEAPACOH: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/chebundo2.pdf
“Uganda’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, Parliament of Uganda: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/baryomunsi.pdf
“Malawi’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Austin Mtukula, Parliament of Malawi: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/mtukula.pdf

Session Three:
“Namibia’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Hansima Christian, Parliament of Namibia: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/hansima.pdf
“Swaziland’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Nonhlanhla Dlamini, Parliament of Swaziland: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/dlamini.pdf
“Tanzania’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Prof. Idris Ali Mtulia, Parliament of Tanzania: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/mtulia.pdf
“Kenya’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Dr. Ekwee Ethuro, Parliament of Kenya: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/ethuro.pdf
“Zimbabwe’s progress, achievements and challenges,” Hon. Dr. David Parirenyatwa, Parliament of Zimbabwe: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/parirenyatwa.pdf

In East and Southern Africa, access to health care is inadequate and unequitable, posing further challenges to addressing health burdens in the region. Governments in the region have promised to dedicate 15% of their domestic budgets to health, and while progress is being made towards this across many countries in the region, few countries in Africa have met this goal. Our governments have also pledged to ensure reproductive health services for all people to reduce maternal death and ill-health, yet every year, thousands of women die in childbirth and family planning services are often unavailable.

Parliaments can and do play a key role in promoting health and health equity through their representative, legislative and oversight roles, including budget oversight. There are a number of documented examples of how these roles have been exercised in East and Southern Africa (ESA) to prioritise health in budgets, to monitor the performance of the executive, to strengthen laws protecting health and to keep the need to redress inequity in health and to promote sexual and reproductive health high on the public agenda (EQUINET SC 2007).

The Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH) was formed in 2005 and aimed to build a more consistent collaboration of the Parliamentary Committees on Health towards achieving individual and regional goals of health equity and effective responses to HIV and AIDS. Parliaments have carried out field visits to local governments at districts and lower levels to appraise themselves with the prevailing health needs, and mobilised and sensitised leaders at local government levels, in civil society and in communities on health and reproductive health issues. At regional level, parliamentary committees on health have met to review health issues, in 2003, 2005, 2008, and most recently in September 2009.

In 2008, Members of Parliament from twelve (12) countries in East and Southern Africa pledged to advance health equity and sexual and reproductive health in the region. During the 16-18 September 2008 meeting, important resolutions and commitments were made by Parliamentarians geared at improving health equity and reproductive health situation in the region (PPD ARO, EQUINET, APHRC, SEAPACOH et al 2008). The follow up meeting in September 2009, provided an opportunity to review progress, share experiences and lessons learnt over the past one year on the implementation of the resolutions of the September 2008 SEAPACOH meeting. The resolutions from the September 2008 meeting are at: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/ParliamentResolutionsSEP08.pdf; the full meeting report and other reports and documents on parliament work in health since 2003 is at http://www.equinetafrica.org.

On 6-9 April 2009, PPD ARO held a workshop for the steering committee members of the Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH) to develop and adopt its Strategic Plan (2009 – 2013). Through a participatory process, SEAPACOH formulated its strategic direction and articulated the Alliance’s priority areas of business focus and strategic interventions during the period 2009-2013. The three main areas of focus identified include: ensuring needs-based resourcing of the health sector; ensuring effective domestication, implementation and compliance with agreed upon commitments in the health sector by governments; and ensuring sustainability of the Alliance. The strategic plan is available online at: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/2009SEAPACOH/SEAPACOHstrategicplan.pdf.

As a follow up to the strategic plan and to the 2008 Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in Eastern and Southern Africa which was held in Kampala, Uganda, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in collaboration with the Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) under the auspices of the Southern and Eastern African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees on Health (SEAPACOH), jointly organized a meeting in Kampala, Uganda on 21 September 2009. The meeting was held prior to the Third EQUINET Regional Conference 23-25 September 2009 that a number of committee representatives also attended and that provided an opportunity to link parliaments with the wider community and resources involved in work on health equity in the region.

In September 2008, the PPD ARO hosted the 2008 Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa, at Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda, from 16-18 September 2008. This meeting gathered members of Parliamentary committees responsible for health from twelve countries in East and Southern Africa, with sixteen technical, government and civil society and regional partners to promote information exchange, facilitate policy dialogue and identify key areas of follow up action to advance health equity and sexual and reproductive health in the region.

This high-level meeting was hosted by PPD ARO in partnership with the Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET), the African Population Health Research Centre (APHRC), Venture Strategies for Health and Development, the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Southern and East African Parliamentary Alliance of Committees of Health (SEAPACOH). The PPD ARO believes that only with strategic partnerships like these, that the programme to improve SRHR, population and development on the African continent can progress.

At the 2008 Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa, representatives from Parliamentary committees agreed to a number of resolutions, including commitments they will pursue for the next two months, and the next year. They agreed that “parliaments must work towards national, regional and international commitments made to protect and advance the right to health and the commitment to equity in health, primary health care and sexual and reproductive heath rights (SRHR) at all levels in East and Southern Africa” including the 2000 African Union Heads of state Abuja declaration and Plan of Action and the Maputo Plan of Action (2006), which work within the framework of the commitments and plans made in relation to the Millennium Development Goals and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

In particular, the group noted, “the importance of implementing the Maputo Plan of Action to enhance SRHR to enable governments to achieve population goals to provide the necessary conditions for economic and social empowerment and development” and resolved to “ensure that such comprehensive SRHR services include Reproductive Health supplies (for commodity security), government funding for antiretrovirals (ARV) for adults and children, community mobilization on SRHR that involves men, especially in vulnerable communities and for adolescents and youth and education of girl children.”

And within the coming year, the group pledged to “prepare and make budget submissions that . . .Include necessary resource allocations for SRHR and for RH supplies (for commodity security)” and “obtain national population and reproductive health policies and national action plans and request report on progress in their funding and implementation.”

The PPD ARO will reconvene participants in 2009 to follow-up as well as support the linkages between Parliamentarians, Ministers and the technical people in their countries that can support these efforts.

Download the Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa meeting report at: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/parliamentreportsep08.pdf

Download the Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Committees on Health in East and Southern Africa resolutions at: http://ppdafrica.org/docs/ParliamentResolutionsSEP08.pdf