N Madlala-Routledge: Technical Consultative Meeting

4 March 2007,

Director of Ceremonies,
Hon Minister Prof Sheila Tlou, our host
Executive Director of the Global Health Workforce Alliance
Representative of the African Union (AU),
Representative of the European Commission,
World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Kalilani,
Organisations here present,
Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
Permanent Secretaries/Director General of Health, Education, Public Service,
Finance from Members of the AU,
Representatives of the Global and Regional International Partners,
Senior Government Officials,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
All protocol observed,

It is indeed an honour and privilege to be afforded the opportunity to
present closing remarks at this high level technical consultative meeting on
strengthening political support for health workforce development to tackle HIV
and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to accelerate progress towards the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

First of all, Programme Director, allow me to express our sincere gratitude
to the Government of Botswana and in particular, Honourable Minister Prof
Sheila Tlou for accepting to host this important meeting. This Hon Minister is
a demonstration of your excellent leadership and political commitment, as the
current Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Ministers of Health, in
addressing health challenges affecting health on our continent.

I noted that this meeting was scheduled over the weekend. I want to believe
that this was deliberate to ensure that our Host Minister would personally be
available given the urgency of preparing properly for the AU Health Ministers'
Conference next month. This reflects the personal commitment of Prof Tlou to
the cause of Human Resources for Health in Africa.

Our sincere appreciation to all of you from different government ministries
responsible for Education, Finance, Planning and Public Service,
representatives from civil society, international and regional partners
including research institutions present here today to explore strategies to
address the health human resources crisis affecting our health services and the
people of our continent. This is a reflection of how each and every one of us
has prioritised the urgent need to address the health human resources crisis.
It confirms your commitment to the improvement of the health status of our
people.

The output from this meeting in the form of Draft Recommendations presented
to us this afternoon, confirms the amount of effort discharged in the last few
days in order to have succinct recommendations prepared for the AU Ministers of
Health and first Inter-Ministerial Consultation. The excellent facilities
availed to us here have provided and assisted in the meeting achieving its
objectives.

Director of Ceremonies,

Allow me to express our gratitude to the organisers of this meeting
particularly the WHO and European Commission for providing technical and
financial support respectively. It is because of your support that all
delegates could be brought together to deliberate on this issue; your support
is highly appreciated.

South Africa is committed to addressing the challenges of human resources
for health. As the proud host country of the Conference of Health Ministers of
the African Union from Monday, 9 to Friday, 13 April 2007; we look forward to
consideration of the reports and recommendations by the Ministers and the
action that will follow. The Inter-Sectoral Ministerial Consultation meeting in
April 2007; the meeting will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, in
Johannesburg, South Africa.

Finally, let me thank all the participants for making time to come to this
meeting in an effort to assist the African continent address human resources
crisis.

Ke a leboga
Siyabonga
Thank You
Merci
Muto Brigado

Issued by: Department of Health
4 March 2007