Dear MR Sentayehu Abebe, Assistant Director Urban health promotion and Disease Prevention, from the FMoH

Dr. Tigest Ketsela, Director, Health Promotion Cluster, WHO/AFRO

Dear country participants,

Colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen

I welcome you all to Addis Abeba, the political capital of AFRICA The attainment of MDGs, particularly health related MDGs, requires focused actions that target the vulnerable segments of the population, particularly women and children. Although we have made some progress there is no significant improvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health of women and children in African Region over the last two decades in 2010 the average maternal mortality rate in Africa is estimated at 480/100000 compared with the 240/100000 for all developing countries.

Also the rate of decline of maternal mortality which is 2.7% between 1990 to 2010 is still far below the expect decline of 5.5%. HIV epidemic is still contributing to as high as 10% of maternal deaths in some countries in the region.

On the other hand, the Region is making slow progress in attainment of indicators for Universal access to reproductive health: antenatal care at least 4 visits stands at 43%, contraceptive prevalence rate estimated at 24% with an unmet need of 25 %. Adolescent birth rate is equally high at 117 per 1000.

Adoption in Maputo, 1998, by Member States of the Regional Strategy for SRH, 1998-2007 is a land mark in Africa leading to regional and global collaboration and serving as umbrella for many initiatives.

The effort thus far in the Region are being challenged by inadequate access, inequitable distribution of high quality services, inefficient skilled man power, weak infrastructure and community involvement among others.

This consultation will introduce the “Regional Agenda” for Accelerating Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health to countries and to key stakeholders and creates sharing of experience on implementation of most effective interventions to accelerate Universal Access to SRH;

The regional agenda requires us of strong partnership involvement of sectors of Finance, Education, Social Affairs, Civil society, NGOs, Academia, Professional associations, Women Rights group’s Association, Community leaders.

Strong political commitment and ownership are also bases for rapid scale up and sustainability of interventions towards Universal Access to SRH.

The WCO in Ethiopia is witness to and is fully engaged in supporting the Government’s effort to address SRH agenda with its sister UN agencies through the UNH4+ joint program on MNH.

I take this opportunity to recognize government of Ethiopia’s achievement in reducing its infant mortality rate by 23 %, from 77 to 59 deaths per 1,000 births, and under - five mortality rate has decreased by 28 %, from 123 to 88 per 1,000 births – and doubling the contraceptive prevalence rate from 15 to 29 %.

I believe that visiting participants from sister African countries will be taking a lesson or two back home from our experiences, while leaving theirs here for our country team, colleagues from Ministry of Health and other participants.

I also encourage you to save some time to give yourself an opportunity to have a look at this exciting city and its wonderful people. I am sure, there is also some more experience waiting out there.

I wish you successful deliberations.

Amessegenalhu, Thank you