Delegates at Abuja+12, a Special Follow-up Summit of the African Union (AU) on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Other Related Infectious Diseases, issued a declaration recognizing the links between health progress and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as the continued need to prioritize health as central to Africa's development, including in the post-2015 development agenda.
16 July 2013: Delegates at Abuja+12, a Special Follow-up Summit of the African Union (AU) on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Other Related Infectious Diseases, issued a declaration recognizing the links between health progress and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as the continued need to prioritize health as central to Africa’s development, including in the post-2015 development agenda.
In a written statement to the Summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recognized the role of strong leadership and political commitment in achieving significant progress in addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, while urging continued momentum, renewed leadership and increased investments to achieve the MDGs.
The Declaration recalls that effective interventions on the three diseases contribute to achieving MDG 4 on reducing child mortality and MDG 5 on improving maternal health. The Declaration prioritizes health in both the post-2015 development agenda and the AU Agenda 2063, including a focus on achieving HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria targets. The Declaration commits signatories to addressing the link between health, peace and security, poverty and development and gender, with the aim of eliminating poverty and providing social protection for all by 2030. It also aligns itself with the report of the Global Thematic Consultation on Health, and the Africa Group’s Resolution at the 66th World Health Assembly on Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
The AU also has developed a draft African Common Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which expresses concern about Africa’s progress on the health MDGs, and notes that Africa is off-track in achieving MDGs 4 and 5, and on-track on MDG 6 on combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases. The draft position sets out Africa’s key priorities in five areas, including human development, which encompasses ensuring universal and equitable access to quality healthcare.
Abuja+12 focused on the theme, ‘Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Response in Africa: Past, Present and the Future,’ and reviewed progress and challenges in implementing plans of action on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It took place from 12-16 July 2013, in Abuja, Nigeria. [Declaration of the Special Summit of the African Union on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria] [Statement of UN Secretary-General] [Abuja+12 Website] [IISD RS Story on African Common Position] [Global Thematic Consultation on Health]