1. health and fitness

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SEVENTH EDITION OF THE EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFORM e-NEWSLETTER 2015
EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFORM
Fostering Stronger Ties for Better Health in East Africa
7th Edition e-Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARIAT
East African Health Platform
Dear Readers,
Joyce Kevin Abalo
Coordinator, EAHP
Welcome to the 7th edition of the Quarterly e-Newsletter of the East African
Health Platform (EAHP) and we trust that this edition finds you well. We
would like to continue to update you on the latest health related information happening in the region from the Platform itself a well as on recent and
upcoming health events. Specifically in this edition you will read about the
following health information:
1.News from the East African Health Platform;
2.News from the East African Community;
3.News from EAHP Member Organizations;
4. Featured Articles which focused on Maternal and Child Health in East African Community;
5. Featured International Health News;
6. Featured Health training and Jobs in East Africa.
We do hope that you will enjoy reading the 7th e-Newsletter. Your contributions, questions, remarks
as well as suggestions for the next newsletter’s edition are very welcome and we encourage you to
contact us at [email protected]. Ms. Joyce Kevin Abalo-Coordinator, EAHP.
OUR CONTACTS:
EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFORM (EAHP)
P. O. BOX 2617 -ARUSHA, TANZANIA, TEL: +255 27 2543047
CELL: +255752224570 FAX: +255 272543047,
EMAIL: [email protected],
WEBSITE: www.eahp.or.tz
MOTTO: FOSTERING STRONGER TIES FOR BETTER HEALTH IN EAST AFRICA
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1.0 NEWS FROM THE EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFORM
East African Health Platform
1.1
Workshop Towards Building Partnership for Advocacy for Integration of Rights
Based Approach to Maternal Health in East Africa
Dr. Rogers Ayiko Middle front line representing the EAC Secretary General leading the Participants for
a group during the workshop on Building Partnership for a Rights Based Maternal Health in East Africa
Confronted with the need to work together with others in the region to advocate for rights based approach to
regional policy and strategy especially on the proposed EAC RMNCAH Policy and Strategy currently undergoing development, establish a coalition for CSOs and identify task force members with expertise in the region and
initiate discussions on collaborative work now and in future, the East African Health Platform (EAHP) organized
an initial gathering of an identified few but key civil society actors who discussed innovative ideas for cooperation, collaboration and sharing in the integration of rights based approach in the development process of the
proposed Integrated EAC Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Policy 2015-2025
and Strategy 2015-2020.
The workshop themed “Building Partnership for Advocacy for the Integration of Right Based Approach
to Maternal Health in East Africa” which took place on the 10th of March 2015 at Hilton Hotel in Nairobi,
Kenya provided CSOs in the region the opportunity to talk to each other, share, review and reflect together on
advocacy for the integration of rights based approach to the proposed Integrated EAC Reproductive, Maternal,
Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Policy 2015-2025 and Strategy 2015-2020, established a coalition of
health stakeholders for the advocacy of RBA, agreed on collaboration on the project and created awareness on
the draft EAC Integrated RMNCAH Policy and Strategy where their comments and Input were sought.
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1.0 NEWS FROM THE EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFORM
1.2
2nd African Healthcare Summit 2015
East African Health Platform
Premised on the fact that healthcare development in
Africa has been long overdue, fast-paced economic
growth is the driving force behind the huge recent
increase in investment. It is estimated that SubSaharan Africa’s healthcare market will rocket to $35
billion by 2016, this figure is set to increase even
further in the year’s ahead fuelled by both domestic
& international investment and an ever-increasing
demand for healthcare.
During the next few years as hospital development
across Africa increases, so to will opportunities for
international healthcare investors and solution providers involved in hospital equipment, pharmaceuticals,
medical technologies and other healthcare services
and products.To sustain the above gain, the Africa
Healthcare Summit 2015 was organized by Oliver
Kinross to bring large delegations of government
ministers, senior hospital directors and healthcare
professionals to Europe to network with international
healthcare experts, investors and solution providers.
The Africa Healthcare Summit provided a completely
unique opportunity for any company involved in or
looking to enter the African health sector. It also
provided African Ministries of Health and healthcare
professionals the opportunity to gain insight into the
latest international developments in healthcare provision; as well as the opportunity for them to network
with international experts, investors and solution providers.
The event attracted over 200 representatives from
16 nations in Africa including senior representatives
from Ministries of Health and other health sector. The
East African Health Platform was represented by the
Chairperson, Dr. Amit N. Thakker, who advocated
and lobbied for the investment in healthcare in East
Africa to support the region in the implementation of
the Millennium Development Goals and the upcoming
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
1.3 EAHP Rolls out the Project Towards
Rights Based Approach to Maternal Health
The East African Health Platform (EAHP in collaboration with the East African Business Council (EABC)
and the East African Civil Society Organizations’
Forum (EACSOF) with the financial support from the
open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa commenced
a project “Towards Rights Based Maternal Health in
East Africa”. The project focuses on having in place
rights based EAC integrated maternal, new-born,
child and adolescent health policy 2015-2025 and
strategic Plan 2015-2020; a functional regional CSOs
coalition on rights based maternal health policy in
East Africa; and an active CSOs and partners advocating for rights based maternal health in East Africa.
All this is in a bid to have, as much as is practical, a
harmonized, unified, rights-based regional response
to maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health
programming in East Africa.
The specific objectives are to;-advocate for the integration of the rights based principles/approaches to
the EAC Integrated RMNCH Policy 2015-2025 and
Strategic Plan 2015 – 2020; initiate, establish and
coordinate a regional CSOs coalition towards rights
based maternal health in East Africa; strengthen
regional CSO‘s ability to demand accountability for
maternal mortality in the EAC region through monitoring and accountability. The aim of the proposed
Integrated EAC Maternal, New-born, Child and
Adolescent Health Policy 2015-2025 and Strategic
Plan 2015-2020 is to provide guidance to the EAC
response to the problem and challenges affecting the
mothers, neonates, children and adolescent in East
Africa with the primary goal of eliminating preventable
maternal, new-born, child and adolescent deaths and
morbidity in East Africa.
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1.3
EAHP Rolls out the Project Towards Rights Based Approach to Maternal Health in
East Africa
As part of the project, to date EAHP have attended two meetings of the EAC TWG on RMNCAH: One in
December 2014 and the other in Nairobi from the 2-10th February 2015 and one Sect oral Committee on health
meeting that took place in Arusha Tanzania from the 23rd-27th February 2015. These meetings were convened
for the drafting of the EAC Integrated RMNCAH Policy 2015-2020 and Strategy 2015-2020 and EAHP has
actively contributed to the inclusion of rights based issues into the policy and strategy including to the EAC communiqué for the symposium of accelerating progress for women and child health which was conducted along the
5th EAC Scientific Conference and International Trade Fair.
EAHP has disseminated communication of the project commencement to the key stakeholders in East Africa to
create awareness on the project both on mailing list, social media and in the East African Newspapers where
commendable feedback and requests for partnership from different stakeholders were received, convened
a workshop on the 10th March 2015 in Nairobi themed “Building Partnerships for Advocacy for Integration
of Rights–Based Approach to the proposed Integrated EAC Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and
Adolescent Health Policy and Strategy in East Africa” as a platform for sharing experiences and building partnership for rights based approach to maternal health in East Africa. For more information on the project, contact
EAHP Secretariat at [email protected]
East African Health Platform
2.0
2.1
NEWS FROM THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
5th EAC Health and Scientific Conference and International Health Trade Fair and
Exhibition 25th-27th March 2015
The East African Community with the support of
various development partners organized the 5th EAC
Scientific Health Conference and International Trade
Fair and Exhibition 25th-27th March 2015 at Kampala
Serena. The Conference themed “Investing in Health
through strengthening regional health systems, and
Institutions Towards the Prevention and Control of
Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases”
attracted over 600 hundred leading health sector players, including the members of parliament, ministers of
health, development partners, private sector players,
researchers, policy makers and health practitioners
from the EAC Partner States and other African and
international states attended and participated. The
following sub-themes were addressed: a) Heath
Systems Strengthening; b) Integrated Approaches
to Disease Prevention, Control and Management; c)
Social Determinants of Health; and d) Diseases and
Conditions of Public Health Importance.
In addition, four Symposia were organized to address
specific areas namely; Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health; HIV & AIDS and
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs); Medicines
and Food Safety and also Emerging and re-emerging
diseases requiring innovative integrated response
mechanisms such as the “One Health” Approach.
The three days conference provided the health sector
fraternity in the EAC and other stakeholders and partners to celebrate research as a key input for improving health policies, programs, systems and outcomes.
It also accorded opportunity for the 11th Ordinary
Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers
of Health; 19th – 24th March 2015, 10th Joint
Meeting and various separate meetings of the EAC
Partner States’ National Health Professional Boards,
Councils, Associations, Societies and Federations:
23rd - 24th March, 2015 that took place prior the
health conference.
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2.1
5th EAC Health and Scientific Conference and International Health Trade Fair and
Exhibition 25th-27th March 2015
East African Health Platform
Source:http://rweyunga.blogspot.com/2015/03/5th-annual-east-african-health-and.html
Hon. Jesca Eriyo giving opening remarks during
the 2nd Symposium on RMNCAH at Kampala
Serena held along the 5th EAC Health and
Scientific Conference 2015. She underscored the
important role EAHP is playing in collaboration
with the EAC Health Department in facilitating
engagement between the EAC and the private
sector, civil society and other interest groups in
East Africa in promoting health of the EA citizens.
The East African Health Platform (EAHP) was represented by the Chairperson Dr. Amit N. Thakker who
made a keynote presentation titled the Landscape of
the Healthcare Provision in East Africa at the plenary
on the 27th March 2015 and the Coordinator Ms.
Joyce Kevin Abalo who made a poster presentation
titled Partnership between the Public, Private Sector
and Civil Society in the Promotion of Health in East
Africa on the 25th March 2015. In addition to the
presentation, the Platform was part of the team that
organized the symposium on Reproductive, Maternal,
New-born, Child and Adolescent Health where in
specific a presentation on Rights Based Approach
was made by EAHP task force member organization on Rights Based Approach, Center for health
Research and Development Uganda represented by
the Executive Director, Mr. Moses Mulumba.
The Platform also network and shared experiences
with several organizations and partners that attended
among them included the delegation from NORAD,
USAID East Africa, OSIEA, WHO, Members of
Parliament and officials from the Ministries of health
from the Partner States and the EAC Secretariat.
The 6th EAC Health and Scientific Conference and
International Health Trade Fair and Exhibition will
take place in Bujumbura, Burundi and EAHP is
expected to be part of the organizing Committee.
For more information on EAHP Presentation you
may access it http://www.eahp.or.tz/highlights/view/
landscape-of-healthcare-provision-in-east-africa, and
for more information on the overall conference please
contact Dr. Rogers Ayiko at [email protected]
Dr. Amit N. Thakker, Chairperson, EAHP with the Session Chairs (middle) and the Coordinator, EAHP
Ms. Joyce K. Abalo after his Keynote Presentation on 27th March 2015
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2.2
1st Technical Drafters Meeting of the EAC Integrated RMNCAH Policy 2015-2025 and
Strategy 2015-2020
Building on the December 2014 Kampala EAC
RMNCAH Technical Working Group work where a
draft framework for the EAC integrated RMNCAH
Policy and Strategy, a selected experts from the EAC
Partner States and Partners including EAHP attending the first experts drafting meeting held from the
2nd-10th February 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting produced the zero draft of the EAC Integrated
RMNCAH Policy and Strategy.
East African Health Platform
In addition to the above, the EAC Secretariat organized the EAC Sectoral Committee of health meeting
in Arusha Tanzania where the two draft documents
were tabled for noting of progress thus far. For more
information about the meeting kindly contact Dr.
Rogers at [email protected]
3.0
3.1
First Meeting of EAC Reproductive Maternal
Newborn Child and Adolescent Health Policy and
Strategic Plan
NEWS FROM EAHP MEMBERS ORGANIZATIONS
FEAPM Launches National EAC-RPMPOA Coordination Committee and Conducts
Sensitization on Local Pharmaceutical Production
Following the recommendations of the East African Community Regional Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan
of Action (EAC-RPMPOA) retreat held in September 2014 and the recommendations of the EAC Sectorial
Committee on Industrialization held from 20th to 22nd August 2014, the EAC Secretariat with the support of GIZ
held two meetings the launched the establishment of National EAC-RPMPOA Coordination Committee as well
as conducted National Sensitization Workshops on promotion of local pharmaceutical production in East Africa.
The National Coordination Committee meetings preceded the national sensitization workshops and it focused
on the following agenda, introduction of Coordination Committee members; progress of implementation of
EACRPMPOA and highlights; role of Focal Point; National Coordination Board and discussion of terms of reference; selection of chairperson and Secretary of the National Steering Committee; and way forward.
The meetings were conducted in the EAC Partner States as follows; Tanzania 10th March at New Africa Hotel in
Dar-es-salaam, Rwanda on the 12th March at the Mille Collines Gotel, Kigali, Burundi on the 13th March at Sun
Safari Hotel, Bujumbura, Kenya on the 17th March at Panafric Hotel, Nairobi and Uganda on the 19th March
2015 at Africana Hotel, Kampala. Selected Civil Society representatives of the East African Health Platform in
the Partner States with interest in Local Pharmaceutical production attended the workshop within their respective Partner States. For more information on the launches and national sensitization workshop, kindly contact
Michelle Maungu at: [email protected].
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3.2 EAHF 4TH Annual Healthcare Conference, 2015 Kigali Rwanda.
From 17-19 May, East Africa Healthcare Federation (EAHF) will be holding its fourth international
conference themed “The Role of the Private Sector in Financial Sustainability of Healthcare Delivery
Systems” in Kigali, Rwanda. The conference will be a platform to openly discuss and encourage the
regions governments to carry out reform programs that would foster public-private partnerships in
health care and will focus on:
The new landscape of global health, financing opportunities for healthcare providers, new trends in
innovation and technology in healthcare, public-private partnerships, strengthening relationship with
development partners, enabling regulatory environment, success stories within the region; towards
universal health coverage.
This event will see leaders from both private and public sector convene and dialogue on priorities within
the region as well as share the overall vision in improving overall healthcare for citizens in East Africa.
All are welcome to attend and participate at the conference for more information on how to participate
in the conference, please visit www.eahf.net
4.0
East African Health Platform
4.1
FEATURED ARTICLES
An Assessment of Kenya’s Maternal Mortality Rates
On 8th March 2015, millions of people across the
world will be celebrating the International Women’s
Day. Unfortunately, owing to high maternal mortality
rates, this will not be the case for some women and
families in Kenya. Research shows that every two
hours a woman in the country dies from birth related
complications. It is no wonder that the maternal mortality rate is still quite high at 360 maternal deaths for
every 100,000 live births. Expert’s state that Kenya
loses between 5,000 and 8,000 women every year to
pregnancy related complications.
These alarming figures have resulted in Kenya being
ranked at position 143 out of 178 in the list of countries with the highest maternal death records in the
world. In the regional front, Kenya is not doing any
better. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that within the East African Community (EAC),
Burundi has the highest maternal mortality rate with
800 women dying out of every 100,000 live births.
This is followed by Tanzania which has a maternal
mortality rate of 460 per 100,000 live births. Kenya
comes in third at 360 maternal deaths for every
100,000 live births while Rwanda follows closely with
320 women dying per 100,000 live births. At 310
maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, Uganda has
the lowest maternal mortality rates in the region.
By Lynda Maungu
With 3 of its members, including Kenya, listed among
the 15 countries with the highest maternal mortality
rates, EAC is definitely lagging behind in the fight
against this predicament. In fact, a recent WHO
report showed the magnitude of the situation by
revealing that one in every 53 women in East Africa
succumb to health complications either during pregnancy or at the time of child-birth. It therefore comes
as no surprise that this year Kenya failed to attain the
fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing maternal mortality rates to 147 deaths for every
100,000 births.
In general maternal mortality rates are linked to health
problems such as obstetric complications including
hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, obstruction of
labor, prolonged labor, anemia, diabetes, malaria,
hepatitis and unsafe abortion practices among other
conditions. In Kenya, the case is no different and
apart from the health problems, social and cultural
practices such as home deliveries and female genital mutilation in some communities have also been
strongly associated with the high maternal mortality
rates.
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4.1
An Assessment of Kenya’s Maternal Mortality Rates
East African Health Platform
There are basically 15 counties in Kenya that have
been heavily affected by high maternal mortality rates.
These counties include Mandera, Turkana, Wajir,
Migori, Nakuru, Siaya, Kisumu, Nairobi, Homa Bay,
Kakamega, Garissa, Marsabit, Taita Taveta, Isiolo
and Lamu and research shows that they account
for 98.7% of all the pregnancy related deaths in
Kenya. Despite having the highest number of women
dying due to pregnancy related causes, Bungoma,
Kakamega, Kilifi, Kwale, Nairobi, Nakuru and Nandi
maternal mortality ratios in these regions are lower
compared to those of Isiolo, Mandera, Marsabit,
Siaya, Turkana and Wajir. Additionally, the number of
deaths during the delivery process stands at 48% in
the entire country while 52% represent post-partum
deaths. In counties such as Garissa, Lamu, Mandera,
Turkana and Wajir more than half of maternal deaths
happen during delivery while Kisumu, Siaya and Taita
Taveta counties experience the highest post-partum
deaths.
With regards to causes of maternal mortality, stark
differences imply that the causes of high maternal
mortality rates in Kenya are diverse and spread
across the 15 regions that are heavily affected by
the problem. Research shows that only 44% of pregnant women in Kenya access skilled care during
birth while 56% deliver at home. This problem has
been attributed to the high number of deaths during
delivery in counties where access to health facilities
that provide antenatal as well as postnatal healthcare
is a big challenge. Most of the counties affected by
high maternal mortality in the North eastern region
have few health facilities and poor infrastructure
which makes it difficult for pregnant women in these
areas to access antenatal and postnatal services.
Furthermore, FGM practices in this region have also
been said to cause complications such as obstructed
or prolonged labor and without skilled healthcare
services, the chances of survival for pregnant women
during birth is minimal.
High prevalence of HIV/AIDS has also indirectly contributed to persistent high maternal mortality rates in
Kenya and 20% of all maternal deaths have been
attributed to this scourge.
In particular, Nyanza region has been heavily affected
by HIV/AIDS. Experts have also raised concerns over
the high levels of poverty in Kenya and linked this
to maternal deaths in the country. The fact that 42%
of Kenyans lives below the poverty line can explain
why it is difficult for many pregnant women to access
skilled healthcare including poor nutrition and pervasive cases of maternal deaths. Women who are
financially well off are more likely to get the proper
nutrition during their pregnancy and also give birth
in good healthcare facilities under the eye of skilled
attendants. This is a privilege that the women from
poor backgrounds cannot afford.
Pregnancy rates of adolescent girls in Kenya are very
high and it is estimated that 106 of every 1000 girls
aged between 15 and 19 give birth every year. This
has been strongly linked to high cases of botched
abortions and maternal deaths in the process.
Among the Initiatives undertaken to curb maternal
mortality rates, the government of Kenya has taken
some initiatives to reduce the high maternal mortality rates. The current regime scraped off charges in
every maternity public hospital and clinic across the
country so as to encourage women to deliver in any
of these facilities. In addition, the government also
launched the Contraceptive Security Strategy in order
to ease access to affordable and uninterrupted supply
of contraceptives.
There are also plans underway to decentralize healthcare provision to local governments so as to address
particular needs of women from different regions
through the county governments. There are initiatives
to increase budgetary allocations towards preventive
health care services including maternal health care
provision.
Government based Maternal and Newborn Health
(MNH) Road Map was launched in 2010 with aim
of reducing maternal mortality rates and newborn
morbidity. Although the program failed to achieve
the Millennium Development Goals before the 2015
deadline, it still provides a framework through which
strategic partnerships aimed at increasing investments in maternal and newborn health can be
attained.
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4.1
An Assessment of Kenya’s Maternal Mortality Rates
Besides the government initiatives, there have been
program and institutional efforts to reduce maternal
mortality rates in the country. For instance, the First
Lady of Kenya, Ms. Margaret Kenyatta began the
Beyond Zero Campaign which is a fundraising initiative that raises money that is channeled into maternal
health care. Through its rallies, the Campaign has
enlisted the support of celebrities, investors, citizens
and stakeholders at large to help reduce the maternal
mortality rates in the country.
East African Health Platform
As a member of the EAC, Kenya will also be a beneficiary of the recently launched Regional Maternal
Health Project by East Africa Health Platform (EAHP).
Dubbed “Towards Rights Based Maternal Health”, the
project which is funded by the Open Society Initiative
for Eastern Africa (OSIEA), intends to come up with
an integrated and functional policy that will address
maternal, newborn, child and adolescent issues in
the region.
As a way forward for reducing maternal mortality rates and despite having attained high economic
growth and gaining reputation as the economic hub
of East and Central Africa, Kenya’s high maternal
mortality rates have led to its poor ranking in human
development indices. Its counterparts, Tanzania and
Rwanda are considered to be doing much better in
the fight to reduce maternal mortality rates. Tanzania,
for instance, may have quite higher maternal mortality rates than Kenya, yet it is considered to have
made bigger strides in reducing these figures. This is
because it has effectively implemented an e-platform
which educates women on pre-natal and post-natal
issues. In addition, the country has also expanded
pre-payment schemes hence increasing access to
skilled emergency obstetric and newborn healthcare
as well as contraceptives.
Considering the fact that it was the only East African
country that was able to reduce maternal mortality
ratio by three-quarters, Rwanda is definitely performing better than Kenya. It has also undertaken more
serious initiatives and this is quite evident in the
reduced number of maternal deaths. By establishing,
Mutuelles de sante, which is an innovative community based insurance scheme for health services, the
government of Rwanda was able to ease access to
skilled healthcare for pregnant women.
Rwanda has also formulated deliberate policies that
address specific needs of the women in its society.
The policies have been able to address problems
such as inadequate skilled birth attendants and
health infrastructure as well as other barriers to
proper maternal health. The government has also
implemented a successful rewards program that is
performance based which offers financing to health
facilities and community health worker co-operatives
that achieve specific goals in the healthcare system.
Performance is measured against specific indicators
including the number of women who give birth at the
health facilities.
Apart from these initiatives that have successfully
been implemented in its neighboring countries, Kenya
should develop and implement national policies that
will address its maternal healthcare system problems.
This should include policies aimed at reducing disparities in access to affordable maternal healthcare
across different regions.
The government should also invest in more healthcare facilities especially in the rural and marginalized
areas where most women still give birth at home. By
devising means of reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence
rates, Kenya can kill two birds with one stone considering that 20% of maternal deaths are caused by
HIV/AIDS related infections. Carrying out intensive
campaign on contraceptives and girl-child education
can also help to reduce maternal deaths and deal
with the problem of high adolescent pregnancy rates.
Even though the Kenyan government has taken
some initiatives to reduce maternal mortality rates,
there is still a lot to be done to reduce the alarming
numbers of women dying during pregnancy or child
birth. All is not lost but Kenya needs to step up its
efforts in reducing these figures and achieving the
highly sought 147 deaths out of every 100,000 live
births.
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East African Health Platform
4.2
“ Much Efforts Needed to Reduce Mother-To-Child HIV and AIDS Transmission in the
EAC Region” By Kevin Barua
Ensuring no baby is born with HIV is an essential step
towards achieving an AIDS-free generation. Over the
past two decades, programme such as prevention
of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, or PMTCT,
have received immense attention from national and
regional governments, development partners and
donor communities around the world, resulting in
an increasing number of pregnant women in need
having access to antiretroviral treatment, and fewer
babies being born with HIV.
The drugs will be sold in 92 low- and middleincome countries including the East African countries.
Studies have shown that RAL is effective in slowing
the spread of HIV in the body, bringing the virus down
to undetectable levels. MPP, established in 2010
under the aegis of the World Health Organization and
UNITAid, works to lower the cost of medicines for HIV
and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through an innovative mechanism that encourages brand holders to
allow access to their patents by others under a pool.
In East Africa, efforts to eliminate mother-to-child
transmission have intensified dramatically. Since
2011, 72 per cent of pregnant women in need of
such services were reached with effective drug regimens, which can reduce the risk of mother-to-child
transmission to less than 5 per cent. However, with
about 960,000 pregnant women between the three
Countries of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, and the
rest living with HIV since 2011 – that’s more than any
other region of the world – the need continues to be
immense.
UNICEF is also working towards a world free of HIV
for international, national and civil society partners
guided by the Global Plan to Eliminate New Infections
among Children by 2015. The Global Plan aims to
keep HIV infection rate for children born to women
living with HIV below 5 percent, and reduce the
number of new infections among young children by
90 percent compared to 2009. UNICEF has set two
goals in its strategic plan for Eastern and Southern
Africa; ensuring 80 per cent of all pregnant women
living with HIV are reached with triple ARV regimens
and 80 percent of children living with HIV are reached
with ART by 2015, from the baseline of 32 percent
in 2009. UNICEF works towards this by reaching to
more women and children, especially in rural areas
where health services are scarce. It is important to
provide HIV testing as part of routine antenatal care
for pregnant women, and providing treatment of “one
pill, once per day” as early as possible for those who
are tested HIV-positive. Such treatment not only protects the health of the mothers living with HIV, but
also prevents transmission to her child – in the uterus, during delivery or during the breastfeeding period.
Whether HIV-infected or not, children born to women
living with HIV have increased risk of morbidity and
mortality. Poverty, isolation and distance from health
care facilities can further place them beyond the
reach of life-saving care. Without effective treatment,
more than half of all babies born with HIV will die
before their second birthday. Yet, only 33 per cent of
children in need of treatment received antiretroviral
therapy. In high-burden, HIV contributes to 10 - 28
per cent of all deaths among children fewer than five
years of age. HIV also contributes to high levels of
maternal deaths in East Africa, about 27 per cent. In
2013, it was estimated that 3.2 million children were
living with HIV, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa but only
760,000 receives ARV treatment.
To compact HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among children
and for effective treatment in the East African region
and beyond, The non-profit organization Medicine
Patent Pool (MPP) has signed a licensing agreement
with Merck Pharmaceutical for the development of
generic formulations of the latter’s antiretroviral drugs
for children living with HIV in developing countries to
access antiretroviral treatments at low-cost.
In addition to UNICEF effort, the Eastern Africa
National Networks of AIDS Service Organization
(EANNASO) is also contributing at regional policy
level to ensure that a harmonized, unified and comprehensive regional law on the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS in the region is enacted,
assented to and implemented by the EAC Partner
States as soon as practicable.
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4.2
“ Much Efforts Needed to Reduce Mother-To-Child HIV and AIDS Transmission in the
EAC Region”
Despite the concerted efforts to reduce the transmission of HIV from mother to child, health systems in East
Africa continue to face difficulties in diagnosing and treating HIV in women of childbearing age. The number of
babies born with the infections still exist and many yet we are looking forward to zero HIV in the next generation. The biggest burden of HIV falls on the women and children. They are both affected and infected and yet
the support available to children and women is still limited. In this regard, the disparities are to be address at
policy level. The East African Community and the Partner States should therefore;


Fast track the assent to the EAC HIV and AIDS Prevention and Management Bill 2012;
Develop guidelines and exchange of best practices in major intervention areas of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), support to orphans, home based care and treatment;
 Develop a regional mechanism for sensitization of citizens to ensure that pregnant women attend
antenatal clinics and delivers from Hospitals to avoid the mother-to-child transmission of HIV;
 Strengthen their health systems to ensure prevention, treatment care and support to all; including
mothers, children, youth and other vulnerable groups of people in the EAC region.
5.0
East African Health Platform
5.1
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India-Africa Health Forum 2015 24 April 2015: Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will be organizing the India–Africa Health Summit 2015 with the support of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India on 24 April
2015 in New Delhi.
The forum will provide an opportunity for the leaders from African Government, civil society, and the private
sector of both India and Africa to meet and discuss specific projects for collaboration in the health sector.
The forum aims to showcase the world class healthcare services, diagnosis, medical technology and medical
research offered by India. The meeting will also provide platform for African countries to showcase the investment opportunities in the healthcare and related sectors to the potential investors who will attend the event.
The Forum is coinciding with the 1st Global Exhibition on Services (GES) being organized jointly by
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The GES is expected to serve as a platform to enhance trade in services
and develop synergies between competitive players of the Services sector in the global market. Over 40 countries are expected to participate in the Fair which shall see over 4000 structured B2B meetings. Hon’ble Prime
Minister of India has confirmed to inaugurate the GES which will have presence of other global leaders.
East African Health stakeholders are cordially invited to participate in the forum. For more information contact
E B Rajesh Regional Director - Africa, Gulf & Middle East International Department Confederation of Indian
Industry at [email protected]
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6.0
6.1
FEATURED HEALTH TRAINING AND JOBS IN EAST AFRICA.
Training on Global Public Health
In an effort to foster the next generation of sustainable development practitioners, the Sustainable
Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has launched an online education platform (www.sdsnedu.
org). Courses on climate change, planetary boundaries, human rights, agriculture, sustainable cities
and others, taught by experts from around the world, will be available for free on this platform. They
will also be available to the SDSN’s 200+ member institutions to offer for credit.
East African Health Platform
Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) as a member institution of the SDSN, has developed a
course on ‘Global Public Health’. Prof K. Srinath Reddy (President, PHFI) will serve as lead instructor
on the course, with contributions by Dr Richard Cash (PHFI/Harvard School of Public Health), Prof
Vinod Paul (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Mr. Rob Yates (Chatham House), and others. The
course will focus on various aspects of public health from infectious diseases to NCDs, from health
systems to big data, all while placing health as central to the broader framework of sustainable development.
The course commenced on March 2, 2015, and will run for 10 weeks. The course comprises of video
lectures posted every week, reading material, quizzes and an interactive discussion forum. Each of
these components can be completed at a time that is convenient for the student. In addition to the
lectures, google hangouts will also be arranged to facilitate direct interactions between the instructors
and students. All students who successfully complete the course requirements will receive a digital
certificate of completion signed by Prof K. Srinath Reddy. Exceptional students will receive certificates
of completion with distinction.
Enrolment for the course is now open, and anyone interested in advancing their knowledge, while
gaining a unique perspective on Global Public Health is welcome to engage. Further details about the
course, including the course structure, requirements and syllabus can be found on the website: https://
www.sdsnedu.org/learn/global-public-health-march-2015
6.2
FEATURED REGIONAL HEALTH JOBS
The following are the featured health jobs tenable at the East African Community EAHRC: Executive
Secretary, EAHRC: Deputy Executive Secretary (Research), EAHRC: Principal Health Officer (Clinical
Research), EAHRC: Principal Health Officer (Operational and Applied Research), EAHRC: Accountant,
EAHRC: Office Secretary/Administrative Assistant and EAHRC: Driver.
For more information on the featured jobs, please visit http://www.eac.int/index.php?option=com_
docman&Itemid=186
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Drafting of Final Technical and Financial Reports of the 5th Annual East African Health and Scientific Conference &
International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair
Date: 18th to 22nd May 2015
Drafting of Final Technical and Financial Reports of the 5th Annual East African Health and Scientific Conference
& International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair and the drafting of the Main Theme, Sub-Themes and Symposia
for the 6th Annual East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair
in Bujumbura, Burundi in March 2016.
Participants: EAC Secretariat, Partner States and East African Health Research Commission.
Venue : Bujumbura, Burundi.
1st Meeting of the Governing Board of the East African Health Research Commission
East African Health Platform
Date:10th to 12th June 2015
1st Meeting of the Governing Board of the East African Health Research Commission
Participants: EAC Secretariat, Partner States and East African Health Research Commission.
Venue :Bujumbura, Burundi.
OUR CONTACTS:
EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFORM (EAHP)
P. O. BOX 2617 -ARUSHA, TANZANIA, TEL: +255 27 2543047
CELL: +255752224570 FAX: +255 272543047,
EMAIL: [email protected],
WEBSITE: www.eahp.or.tz
MOTTO: FOSTERING STRONGER TIES FOR BETTER HEALTH IN EAST AFRICA
7TH EDITION OF THE EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFORM e-NEWSLETTER 2015