Addis Ababa, 04 July 2017 - “When Africa unites and makes its voice heard, it wins” Said H.E. Alpha Conde, President of the Republic of Guinea and Chairman of the African Union speaking at the opening ceremony of the 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa. He added “The recent election of Dr Tedros Adhanom at the Director General (DG) post of the World Health Organization is an eloquent illustration.

On behalf of you (Head of States) I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate him and wish him success in the future.” H.E. Mr. Alpha Condé also called for a new era of self-reliance to drive development and end poverty on the continent.
 
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa took part in the opening of the 29th Assembly of the African Union which was held on 03 July 2017. On the same day, Dr Moeti also attended the working lunch of AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) where a number of Heads of State and Government were in attendance. AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) is a statutory entity of the African Union with the specific mandate to lead advocacy, accountability and resource mobilization efforts to advance a robust African response to end AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030.

On Tuesday 04, July 2017, beside her participation on the half day meeting of 19thassembly of OFLA, Dr Moeti used the opportunity to meet with H.E. Mrs Amira Elfadil Mohamed, Commissioner for Social Affairs. The meeting enabled them to take stock on status of WHO-AUC partnership including joint work on the operationalization of the Africa CDC, the establishment of the Africa Medicines Agency, the score card on health financing. This was their second meeting since Commissioner Amira Elfadil took office in March 2017. Dr Moeti extended an invitation to Commissioner Amira Elfadil to visit Brazzaville sometime this year or early next year. The invitation was accepted and dates shall be confirmed soon. Dr Moeti completed her mission and departed on 5 July 2017.