IGAD REGIONAL HIV & AIDS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME (IRAPP) DECLARATION BY THE IGAD MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HIV AND AIDS 19TH FEBRUARY, 2009, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
We, Ministers of Health and/or Ministers in charge of HIV&AIDS of the IGAD Member States attending the IRAPP Ministerial Committee Meeting on Health and HIV&AIDS in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Recalling the recommendations of the First and Second Conferences on Public Health in the Horn of Africa held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1996 and 1998, for the improvement of HIV and AIDS control among vulnerable populations in the IGAD Region, recommendations from Ministerial meeting on health held in Djibouti in November 2006, the recommendations of the First Ministerial Committee on Health and HIV&AIDS held in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2007 and other Regional and Sub-regional conferences on major communicable diseases and other key public health priorities;
Acknowledging the strong commitment to improving health and promoting the well-being of people in the IGAD region by governments, communities and development partners, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support;
Considering the recommendations of the IRAPP Steering Committee meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 16-17th February 2009;
Recognizing with appreciation the support given by World Bank and CIDA for the IGAD Regional HIV&AIDS Partnership Programme;
Anticipating more financial and technical support from other development partners;
Acknowledging the new emerging evidence on prevention of new HIV infections particularly on most at risk populations including cross border and mobile populations,
COMMIT OURSELVES TO;
Mobilize and maintain political will at the highest level of each country in support of common regional policies and strategies to prevent and control HIV and AIDS and other health related issues among cross border and mobile populations.
Further strengthen the capacity of IGAD Health Desk for health system development including human resource and research;
CALLING UPON ALL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO:
Support the scaling up of HIV&AIDS and related diseases in the prevention, care and treatment services for CBMP
RESOLVE TO:
Scale up the provision of HIV&AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support activities for cross border and mobile populations;
Support the development of the Regional Strategic Plan for HIV&AIDS targeting the cross border and mobile populations;
Strengthen collaboration and coordination among IGAD Member States at the national level as well as at cross border level
Done in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 19th Day of February, 2009