Assembly/AU/ 6 (X)I Page 14 7. The Special Session of the Conference of African Ministers of Health (CAMH), May 17 2008, Geneva, Switzerland As agreed at the 3rd Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Health (Johannesburg, April 2007), the Special Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Health was held at the ILO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, on 17 May 2008. The objectives of the Special Session of the Conference included: o To consider the Implementation Plan for the Africa Health Strategy (2007); o Agree on the way forward Manufacturing Plan for Africa; for operationalizing the Pharmaceutical o Consider the Progress Report on Implementation of the Outcome of the May 2006 Abuja Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria as requested by Heads of State and Government; o Consider the Progress Report on the Implementation of Health-linked MDGs, in commemoration of 30th Anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration; o Consider other health issues of current concern to Africa. After thorough deliberations on a number of important issues related to health, including the promotion of maternal, newborn and child health in Africa, the AU Ministers of Health meeting, among others: o endorsed the Progress Report on Implementation of Health-related MDGs: and, welcome the steps forward, but recognise that the achievement of the Health MDGs will require renewed commitment to health development through the Primary Health Care strategy in line with the Ouagadougou Declaration (2008) and strengthening of health systems, significant increase in domestic and external investment and improved aid effectiveness in line with the Paris Declaration. o also recommend that the Progress Report on Implementation of Health-related MDGs be incorporated into the annual progress report to be submitted to the AU Summit and to the UN General Assembly. o further endorsed the Report of the AU Continental Workshop to Harmonise, Develop and Institutionalise the Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality Reviews and Accelerate the Implementation of Recommendations Towards Meeting MDG 4 and 5 and invite Member States to plan for the implementation of the outcomes of the workshop: Moreover, the Special Session nominated the Minister of Health of South Africa, Dr Manto Tshabalala Msimang, as AU Goodwill Ambassador and Champion for “Africa’s Movement to Improve Maternal Health and Promote Child Survival and Development beyond 2015”, in collaboration with other Ministers.