EAST AFRICAN HEALTH PLATFROM TO BE LAUNCHED IN KIGALI MARCH  

Private sector and civil society Health and pharmaceutical experts from the Partner States will convene in Kigali, Rwanda, for two-days from 26 March, 2013 to launch the East African Health Platform (EAHP).

 

The launch, to be presided by the East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Hon. Jesca Eriyo, is a culmination of a year-long joint efforts by the East African Community (EAC), the East African Business Council (EABC), the East African Community Civil Society Forum (EACSOF), the East African Health Federation (EAHF), the Federation of East African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FEAPM) and the Eastern Africa Network of AIDS Service Organizations (EANNASO). The EABC and EACSOF are the regional apex associations for the private sector and civil society respectively.

 

‘’The creation of East Africa Health Federation (EAHP) will go a very long way in supplementing the EAC regional efforts in promoting and strengthening the health sector. I am therefore greatly humbled to preside over the launch and hope the platform will result in the creation of an enabling environment for a healthy East African population" underlined Hon. Eriyo.

 

“The development of the EAHP strategic plan comes at the right moment when the EAC has just adopted the dialogue framework for the participation of Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) and Private Sector Organizations (PSOs) in the regional integration process,’’ said Dr Amit Thakker, Chairperson EAHP.

 

Article 127(4) of the Treaty provides for the creation of an enabling environment for participation, strengthening of the private sector and engendering of cooperation among CSOs and PSOs in the region.

 

The focus of the strategy is geared towards institutional development of the platform and harmonization of policies and legislations aligned to the health undertakings in the region.

 

The EAHP is expected to be an effective and vibrant platform, where stakeholders can utilize the already built EAC dialogue channels and enhance promotion of the region’s health sector competitiveness in trade, service delivery and investments.

 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur international Zusammernarbeit (GIZ), the German International Development Agency, facilitated the EAHP’s initiation.