KAMPALA, 18 December 2015:- Ugandan hosted the twenty-first session of the Joint Action Forum (JAF) of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) at Speke Resort Munyonyo, 15th to 16th December 2015, under the theme ‘Forty Years of Onchocerciasis Control in Africa’ in Kampala. The meeting was organized to discuss progress in the addressing Onchocerciasis in the 16 Onchocerciasis endemic countries and also facilitate the transition from APOC to Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa (ESPEN) which will cater for all NTDs.

The Chief guest, the Prime Minister of Uganda Hon. Dr. Ruhankana Rugunda was represented by Al Hajji Kirunda Kiveijinja the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister in the Government of Uganda. In his remarks to open the meeting read by, Hon. Kiveijinja, the Prime Minister said that one of the government’s top priorities is to cure diseases. He further said that government recognizes the importance NTDs and the momentum to eliminate them in Uganda has increased.

Hon. Kiveijinja also noted that most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are linked to health and agriculture which if properly implemented will lead to better workforce and hence improved standards of living in Africa. 

Dr. Matshidisho Moeti, WHO Regional Director for African spoke at the meeting and said she believed that the discussions had placed WHO in a good place to administer the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of NTDs in Africa (ESPEN).

“We recognize the need to start the south-south collaboration in addressing NTDs as suggested by the donors, and I encourage countries to consider it,” She said. “NTDs will continue to be on top of our agenda and I would like reiterate WHO’s commitment to tackling NTDs. ESPEN operations will commence in January 2016”, she further said. 

Hon. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye the Minister of  Health, who was also elected as the Chair of the 21st JAF session said that tackling the Onchocerciasis was also beneficial to other health interventions. He also said that the Government of Uganda will work with other partners to ensure improved funding to tackle Onchocerciasis.

He further said that a revised master-plan of Uganda to address NTDs is now available and hoped hopes that it will address Onchocerciasis. He concluded his remarks by calling on partners, donors and countries to invest in research because many health issues are emerging.

Dr. Chris Mwikisa, Director of APOC congratulated Uganda for achievements made so far and for being on track to eliminate Onchocerciasis by 2020. He further said that medicines are being made available and countries are cooperating in the battle against Onchocerciasis and such called for the need to scale up.

Dr. Chris thanked his team at APOC for the tremendous work it has done thus far and called on countries and partners to build on what APOC has achieved saying, “As we close APOC, we must protect the important achievements already made and build on what has been achieved.”

At the meeting, different interest groups were fully represented and presented their findings, reports and recommendations on the work of APOC and ESPEN, when it commences work in 2016.

The JAF commended APOC Management, Technical Consultative Committee and the Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGDOs) for the excellent work they have done. JAF also commend the APOC Evaluation Team for an in-depth, comprehensive and thoughtful report. JAF noted the assurance of WHO/AFRO Regional Director, given the concerns raised on the transition from APOC to ESPEN, that WHO will manage the transition carefully in a multi-layered fashion, dialogue more intensely with key partners, and develop a plan for the transfer, storage and accessibility by countries and partners, of data currently available at APOC headquarters.

The meeting was attended by Honourable Ministers and for some, their representatives of the 16 Onchocerciasis-endemic countries in Africa, representatives of the donor community, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, WHO (Headquarters, AFRO, Country Office/Uganda), senior health managers, Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NDGO), the Mectizan Donation Programme, Research Institutions, Directors and Coordinators of National Onchocerciasis Control Programmes and Representatives of the Statutory Bodies of APOC and the media.

WHO REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR AFRICA MEETS UNITED NATIONS HEADS OF AGENCIES IN UGANDA

WHO African Regional Director (RD) Dr. Matshidisho Moeti set aside time in her busy schedule to have a working lunch with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) of Uganda at Kampala Serena Hotel.

They discussed a wide range of issues pertaining health, development , agriculture and most importantly child and ,maternal health. The UNCT informed the RD that agencies are working closely together through convergence groups as they support the government in development.

Dr. Moeti congratulated the UNCT for the tremendous work they are doing in Uganda and encouraged the members to continue working together to achieve their mandate of the United Nations.

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