Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will leave for Windhoek, Namibia this evening to attend the fifth session of African Union (AU) health Ministers' meeting scheduled fortomorrow and Thursday, 20 to 21 April 2011.
The meeting, held under the theme "The impact of climate change on health and development in Africa" will be attended by health Ministers and their senior officials from across the African continent and its outcomes will be taken to the World Health Assembly due to be held in Geneva next month. This theme is informed by the increasing pressure that climate change places on health and development in the continent. Some of the common consequences of climate change include increasing prevalence of many vector borne infectious diseases which include malaria, dengue and encephalitis and the accompanying deaths from these diseases. South Africa is one of the countries in the region still affected by many of these diseases.
Other issues expected to be discussed in the AU tomorrow and Thursday include scaling up towards Universal Access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support as well as acceleration of efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 395 8493
Cell: 079 517 3333
Enquiries:
Jimmy Manyi
Cabinet Spokesperson
Cell: 082 379 3454
