Upcoming ReAct Africa Conference: universal health coverage and antimicrobial resistance in focus

2019-06-26

23-25 July, ReAct Africa and South Centre will host a conference with the theme, “Achieving Universal Health Coverage while addressing Antimicrobial Resistance” in Nairobi, Kenya. This year’s conference will focus on the connection between achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Specifically, the conference will focus on how addressing AMR is a path to attaining UHC and what country programs can be leveraged on.

25 African countries meet to address antimicrobial resistance

The conference will convene high level policy makers from the health sector (AMR and UHC), AMR experts, as well as civil society representatives from over 25 African countries and intergovernmental agencies. Over 90 participants are expected to attend. There will be representation from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) among other intergovernmental organizations. Ministries of Health from various countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe will also be represented.

Mirfin Mpundu, Head of ReAct Africa says:

“We are excited and looking forward to hosting participants from over 25 countries for this year’s conference. I am certain that antimicrobial resistance threatens the attainment of universal health coverage as it has become one of the greatest threats to global health and sustainable development.

The learning and exchange of experiences on the antimicrobial resistance situation and policy responses at the country level, including on National Action Plans, needs, successes and challenges faced in implementation will go a long way in informing the UHC and AMR global agenda.”

Leave with greater understanding of connections between AMR and UHC

The Expected Conference Outcomes are that all participants will have an understanding on connections between antimicrobial resistance and universal health coverage. There will be raised awareness on the urgency of addressing antimicrobial resistance as a path to achieving UHC. Participants will exchange experiences of antimicrobial resistance , Sustainable Development Goals, universal health coverage and identify synergies and entry points. The country case studies, will help  participants share best practices and  learn from each other and see how they can move these national, regional and global agendas.  The mutual understanding of antimicrobial resistance and UHC, will assist in moving forward the discussions before the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) which has universal health coverage as one of the priority agenda items in the high-level meeting.  In addition, the conference is expected to provide inputs for global antimicrobial resistance governance and provide insights on how to keep the political momentum on  universal health coverage and antimicrobial resistance high up on the global agenda; improve intergovernmental agency coordination; ensure accountability and sustained financial resources to support regional antimicrobial resistance and universal health coverage efforts.

2018 – focus was sustainable development goals and AMR

The 2018 conference whose theme was, “Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa to achieve the 2030 Agenda” brought together participants from over 20 African countries and had a truly One Health representation, with  almost equal representation from the human health, animal health, agriculture and environment sectors. The three-day meeting unpacked in greater detail how antimicrobial resistance relates with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference identified successes, challenges and recommendations for the implementation of National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance in relation to the SDGs and the One Health including governance.

See reflections from 2018 conference

Part 1: Participants reflecting at the ReAct Africa conference in 2018.

Part 2: Participants reflecting at the ReAct Africa conference in 2018.