Assembly/AU/ 6 (X)I
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ii.
It is essential to promote transparency and accountability in the health sector
in general and in programmes dealing with maternal, newborn and child health
in particular. In this regard, it is recommended that efforts should be made to
institutionalize enquiries into maternal, newborn and child deaths and that
period reports be submitted by member states to the RECs and the AU
Commission;
iii. In the context of promoting maternal, newborn, and child health, Member
States should ensure the implementation of the Africa Health Strategy, the
Maputo Plan of Action on sexual and reproductive health and rights, the Plan
of Action for the prevention of violence in Africa; and other instruments,
including the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child as well as
conventions and protocols dealing with the promotion of women’s rights;
iv. The international community should make good its promises at different fora
and as enshrined in a number of internationally agreed upon instruments: the
ICPD PoA, the Beijing Declaration, the World Summit on Social Development,
the MDGs, and the various declarations following reviews of these and other
consensuses;
v. While Africa needs to tackle existing problems like poverty, the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, Malaria and TB, concerted efforts are also needed to tackle
emerging challenges such as climate change, the food crisis and skyrocketing
food prices whose impacts are severe on children, mothers and infants;
vi. As in all other development areas, the health sector in general and maternal,
newborn and child health promotion requires strong partnership at all levels. In
this regard, mechanisms should be devised to make partnership work for
Africa, and to ensure result-based, demand-driven and transparent partnership
in maternal, newborn and child health;
vii. The human resources, financial and logistic capacity of the AU Commission
should be strengthened to:
step up advocacy efforts for the promotion of maternal, newborn and
child health in Africa;
Undertake timely monitoring and evaluation activities; compile and
disseminate best practices and
create appropriate fora for exchange of ideas and experiences in the
promotion of maternal, newborn and child health;
viii. The recommendation of the Special Session of the Conference of African
Ministers of Health, on May 17, 2008, to appoint a Goodwill Ambassador to
champion the promotion of maternal, newborn and child health in Africa be
considered and adopted by the AU Heads of State and Government. If this is
accepted, the AU Commission should provide the necessary technical and
institutional support for the Goodwill Ambassador.