The Department of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) wishes to invite health journalists, reporters and radio announcers to an educational workshop on the Campaign on accelerated reduction of maternal and child mortality in Africa (CARMMA).
The Workshop will be held as follows:
Date: 3 May 2012, Thursday
Time: 08h30 – 12h00
Venue: City Engineers Building, 166 KE Masinga Road (Formerly Old Fort Road), Durban
The Educational workshop seeks to: (i) share information and unpack the Campaign; (ii) brief journalists on maternal and infant mortality rates in the country and by the province, (iii) unpack South Africa’s strategies to reduce maternal and child mortality; and (iv) share information that may assist journalists in their reporting.
Meeting in Uganda in July 2010 under the theme: ”Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa” the African Union Assembly endorsed CARMMA. The decisions of the Assembly included amongst others a list of Actions on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Development in Africa by 2015, which Heads of State and Government committed to undertake.
The first action reads as “ We Commit to Launch CARMMA in our countries and broaden it as an advocacy strategy for the promotion of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and involve all key stakeholders such as the women, children and young people, persons with disabilities, parliamentarians, community and religious leaders, civil society organisations, the media, and the private sector and institutionalize an annual CARMMA week in solidarity with the women and children of Africa for the next four years”.
The launch will be witnessed by Ministers from the South African Development Community (SADC) countries, representatives from the African Union, UNFPA and DFID and it will be addressed by the National Minister for Health Dr A Motsoaledi, Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Ms Lulama Xingwana and the keynote speaker will be Mrs Graca Machel.
This ground breaking event will take place in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal on 4 May 2012 at Osindisweni.
You are requested to confirm attendance as indicated in the attached invitation.
We shall be delighted to host you during the workshop.
