The document outlines the role of health structures in the East African Community (EAC) and their connection to the African Union (AU) and NEPAD. It emphasizes the establishment of health desks within regional economic communities to enhance collaborations and harmonize health policies among member states while addressing transboundary health issues. The document also highlights the need for improved coordination and resource mobilization in addressing health challenges in the region.

1. Health structures in the EAC and
how the link with the African
Union Commission
DR. Michael J. Katende
Principal HIV and AIDS Officer
East African Community Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
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2. Background
The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are
the pillars of the African Union (AU), and have
been recognized by the AU as the key vehicles for
economic integration and cooperation in Africa.
2001 African Heads of State created the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD),
integrated development framework to enhance
growth and reduce poverty in Africa by
addressing key political, economic and social
priorities in a coherent and balanced manner ca
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3. Background
Adopted as the continent's premier
development framework at a July 2001 summit
meeting of African Heads of State and
Government
In 2002, the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of
AU Heads of State and Government of the
Organization of African Unity (OAU) held in Durban,
South Africa declared the creation of the AU, decided
that NEPAD would be implemented within the AU
through the RECs
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4. Background
Adopted by the AU Conference of African
Ministers of Health (CAMH) in 2003, Inter alia,
recommendations on a proposal to establish
Health and Social Affairs Desks within the
RECs
The 2003 Maputo Session of the Assembly of
AU Heads of State and Government duly
endorsed the Report of the Ministers and
their recommendations
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5. Purpose of health Desks in REC
i.
harmonization of the health policies of
member states within the REC;
ii. improved co-ordination of health promotion
activities;
iii. better resource mobilization and utilization; and
iv. better co-operation between the AU, RECs,
Health Ministries of Member Sates, UN
Agencies, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations
on health issues.
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6. Guiding principles
the social (or health) issue tackled that are transboundary
in nature or require inter-country cooperation;
Facilitate the implementation of, or commitment to,
international conventions and other regional and
international instruments on health or social welfare and
development;
promote the formulation of an African regional or subregional consensus at international forums;
facilitate inter-country exchange, and promote learning
from best practices in the region or sub-region, through
physical meetings or compiling best practice models,
guidelines and standards;
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7. Guiding principles
facilitate action by, and promote linkages or networking
among, centers of excellence, including social (or health)
development institutions, professionals and
practitioners in the region or sub-region;
support the building of capacity for compiling evidence,
regional indicators and trends;
REC, in undertaking interventions, should not duplicate
(but should rather add value to) work already being
done by other regional or sub-regional intergovernmental bodies or institutions
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8. • Health Strategy of NEPAD is to substantially
reduce the burden of disease, with specific
targets that are consistent with those of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
aimed at halting and beginning to reverse the
spread of disease by 2015
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9. 9

10. Units in the health department
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11. EAC Regional Governance Structure for HIV and AIDS
SUMMIT OF EAC HEADS OF
STATE
EAC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
LVFO Council of Ministers + EAC
Sectoral Council of Edu, Sci, Culture
and Sports (IUCEA ) + EAC Sectoral
Council on LVBC
EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health
EAC MULTISECTORAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP
ON HIV AND AIDS (NACCs + National Ministries +
Institutions, etc)
EAC ANNUAL STAKEHOLDERS
FORUM ON HIV AND AIDS
The EAC Joint Steering Committee
on HIV and AIDS (the JSC)
LVFO Secretariat + LVBC Secretariat +
IUCEA Secretariat – Report to EAC SG
EAC SECRETARIAT
(EAC HIV AND AIDS UNIT)
EAC PARTNER STATES’ NATIONAL HIV AND AIDS FOCAL POINTS
(NATIONAL AIDS COMMISSIONS/COUNCILS)
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12. linkages
• Structures may exist but the linkage between
AUC and EAC is weak and sporadic, not well
defined may be regularized but at a much higher
level of the Secretary General.
• Linkage is through NEPAD Agency e.g
– EAC Medicine Regulatory Harmonization project
– East African Public Health Networking Project
• Linkage through NEPAD is mainly project or
programme based, depending on the existing
funding and area of interest of the funding
agency
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13. Linkage with Partners
• Partners Forum
• engage Individual with the partners on
thematic areas
• Task force – transport corridors and the Cross
border initiatives
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