Brazzaville, 13 March 2013 --  The World Health Organization's Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo presented the Report on “Addressing the Challenge of Women’s Health in Africa” at a Special Meeting organized at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Global Library of Women’s Medicine. 

The event took place on 8 March 2013.

The Report was written by a panel of 15 expert commissioners drawn from across Africa and chaired by the President of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

A documentary film on “The Mothers of Africa” was also premiered at the same event, which was attended by representatives of African diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom, academia, medical practitioners, civil society and other partners. 

In his presentation, Dr Sambo stated that African women are faced with high maternal mortality rates, risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, gender- based violence, unsafe abortions and consequences, cervical cancer and other non-communicable diseases. He acknowledged efforts by governments throughout Africa to address the situation and emphasized the need for further, urgent and coordinated action, including improving the social status of women, promoting gender equity and enabling women to contribute fully to social and economic development. 

Dr Sambo greatly welcomed the opportunity of presenting the Report and documentary film to partners in London stating that it is only by raising global awareness of the health challenges faced by African women, that what needs to be urgently done, can be attained. He stated that the real virtue of the Report is that it provides specific recommendations for action that can be taken now and which will start to make a difference. 

Other speakers at the event were Professor James Walker, Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists; Ms Poppy Majingo, Minister Counselor at the High Commissioner of Botswana and Representative of His Excellency the High Commissioner of Botswana and Dean of African diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom; and Mr David Bloomer President of the Foundation for the Global Library of Women’s Medicine.
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For more information, please contact:
Dr. Triphonie Nkurunziza, World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa
P.O. Box 6, Brazzaville, Congo
Tel: +47 241 39132
Email: nkurunzizat [at] afro.who.int