Debrief

African Parliamentarians call ending AIDS to be priority in the post-2015 agenda

27 March 2014

The special role of parliamentarians in advancing the AIDS response now and beyond 2015 was discussed on 25-26 March during a roundtable at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.

The meeting was organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the NEPAD Agency, and in partnership with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) with support from UNAIDS and Global Fund.

The aim of the dialogue was to create awareness and build the capacity of parliamentarians on the agreed 2013 Abuja actions toward the elimination of AIDS, TB & Malaria in Africa by 2030, the Roadmap on shared responsibility and global solidarity for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, and the AU Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA) including the African medicine regulatory harmonization (AMRH) initiative.

Participants recognized the comparative advantage that Members of Parliament have to follow through the implementation of policies and legislative frameworks. 

Participants:

Members of Parliament from the continent representing national, regional and the Pan-African parliaments; representatives from the African Union Commission, NEPAD Agency, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNIDO, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and the Africa Civil Society Platform.

Key Outcomes:

Parliamentarians committed to:

  • Advocate for and engage with national stakeholders to ensure that ending AIDS, TB and Malaria epidemics remains a key priority in the national, continental and global agenda beyond 2015.
  • Gather data on access to health services by vulnerable and key populations as well as to review laws and policies that affect access to services.
  • Support the initiative to achieve universal access to HIV treatment on the continent, including HIV treatment for children, as an important catalyst for saving lives, preventing new HIV infections and moving towards ending the AIDS, TB and Malaria epidemics. 

Quotes

“We, Pan-African Parliamentarians, commit to give priority to AIDS, TB and Malaria in the post-2015 development agenda, and improving human rights protection and promotion of people living with HIV and key populations.”

Dr BALA Saratou – Boukari Sabo, MP, Chairperson, Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs, Pan-African Parliament; Depute, Assemblee du Niger

“We rely on you, Honourable Members, to use your parliamentary platforms at the national, regional and continental levels for advocacy, oversight and accountability on issues on the health agenda.”

Dr Mustapha S. Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission

“We are coming up with great recommendations but more important is the need to translate these into action and implementation to improve the welfare of our constituents.”

Blessing Chebundo, MP, Chairperson, Network of African Parliamentary Committees on Health; Member of Parliament, Zimbabwe

“UNAIDS is committed to supporting parliamentarians with the relevant strategic information on the AIDS epidemic as well as other tools to assist parliamentarians make decisions and provide oversight for the AIDS response.”

Pride Chigwedere, Senior Advisor to the African Union, UNAIDS