Brazzaville, 5 March 2014 – A two-day meeting of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria  programme experts from the  African Union (AU),  United Nations agencies, Regional  Economic Communities and a number of  health,  non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) got underway on Wednesday in Brazzaville, Congo.

The meeting, being held under the theme “Taking stock of Africa’s achievements, challenges and directions in responding to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria”, precedes a meeting of the Regional leaders  of the participating agencies and organizations,  to be held on Friday  (7 March) in Brazzaville.

The inter-agency forum is organized every 2 years. Its aim is to review and coordinate the work and efforts of continental and regional institutions, the UN system and development partners in order to effectively support Member States to follow-up on commitments and to adequately address challenges in HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria programmes.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting of experts, the Deputy Regional Director at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, recounted the significant progress so far made in the fight against HIVAIDS, TB and malaria in the Region between 2000 and 2012.

This includes vastly improved access to antiretroviral therapy by eligible persons, including pregnant women living with HIV to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; a drop in HIV infections among children; a decline in the incidence of TB and the increase in the number of HIV-positive TB patients with access to ARV; and a reduction in malaria incidence and malaria-related deaths by 31% and 49% respectively.

“Despite this progress, we need to ask ourselves what we can do differently to ensure greater value for money for the resources and efforts we have put in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.”, Dr Moeti said. “We should not forget that while progress has been made, there are still challenges to meet.”

Dr Moeti, therefore, called on countries and their development partners to adopt a strategic focus on “smart investment for enhanced impact” on the burden of HIV/ TB and Malaria in Africa.

The meeting was opened by AU’s Director of Social Affairs, Dr. Olawale I. Maiyegun, who said “We need to ensure that now more than ever before, we work together in harmony to implement interventions with the highest impact at the lowest cost to ensure the greatest return on health investments.”

He also spoke of the need for  effective coordination of plans and strategies at  the national, regional and  continental levels  especially at a time  when  funding  from external sources was not  adequate,  sustainable or  predictable.

Speaking on behalf of CSOs, Ms Ogechi Onuoha of AFRI-DEV, a health NGO, called for enhanced country ownership, more domestic and effective investments in the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The meeting is being attended by 65 participants from 33 agencies, RECs, NGOs and CSOs.