PPD-ARO Convenes Meeting Between Parliamentarians, and Partners to Advance Commitments from the 15th NEAPACOH Meeting
PPD-ARO Convenes Meeting Between Parliamentarians, and Partners to Advance Commitments from the 15th NEAPACOH Meeting
November 20th 2024, Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) in collaboration with the National Council For Population and Development (NCPD) and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), successfully held a breakfast meeting in Nairobi as part of ongoing efforts to share progress, lessons learned, and strategies for advancing the commitments made during the 15th Annual Meeting of the Network of African Parliamentary Committees on Health (NEAPACOH), which took place in Maseru, Lesotho, earlier this year.
The 15th NEAPACOH meeting, held on February 28-29, 2024, brought together over 150 delegates, including Parliamentarians, Parliamentary staff, government technical officers, and representatives from international organizations, civil society, and development partners.
The meeting, themed “Towards ICPD@30 and achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Imperatives for accelerated implementation and the role of Parliamentarians,” focused on accelerating access to sexual and reproductive health services, increasing domestic health financing, strengthening health security, and advancing UHC in Africa.
The meeting provided a valuable platform for Kenyan Parliamentarians, especially those from the Health, Environment, and Finance Committees, to reflect on the Maseru Call to Action and share progress on their commitments made during the Lesotho meeting. These commitments included increasing investments in social health insurance, prioritizing domestic resource mobilization, and strengthening primary health care systems.
Key outcomes of the meeting included:
- Increased awareness among Kenyan Parliamentarians regarding the critical issues raised during the 15th NEAPACOH meeting.
- Progress shared on the implementation of the 2024 NEAPACOH commitments and the Maseru Call to Action.
- Strategies explored for accelerating domestic health financing to achieve UHC and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kenya.
Approximately 15 members of the Kenyan National Assembly participated in the meeting, including those from the Health, Environment, and Finance Committees, as well as officials from the NCPD and Ministry of Health.
The event underscored the importance of political commitment and legislative action in advancing the health priorities outlined in the NEAPACOH commitments, with a clear focus on the need for increased domestic health financing, improving reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health, and achieving UHC.
Speaking during the event, the Chairperson, Parliamentary Committee of Health in the National Assembly Hon. Dr. Robert Pukose noted that the Kenyan government has made significant strides towards the implementation of Universal Health Coverage. “Our progress in the National Assembly is notable. To date, the Parliamentary Committee of Health has enacted more than five laws in a span of two years, signaling our commitment towards UHC” Dr Pukose said.
Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO)
works in partnership with African governments, civil society organizations, and development partners to promote access to health services, improve reproductive health, and ensure equitable development for all Africans.
Hon. Dr. Robert Pukose MP, Chairperson, Parliamentary Committee of Health delivers the key note address during the meeting
