Ordinary Assembly of ECOWAS Health Ministers (AHM) will take place from June 4-8, 2018 in Banjul, The Gambia.
The meeting is being organized by the West African Health Organization (WAHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of The Gambia.
The official opening ceremony and all other meetings (Country Liaison Officers Meeting, Health Experts’ Meeting, Partners Forum and Health Ministers Meeting) will take place at THE KAIRABA BEACH HOTEL located at PMB 390 Serrekunda, 390 Kololi, The Gambia.
The Assembly of ECOWAS Health Ministers (AHM) is an important annual event for the ECOWAS region for decision-making in the area of health.
At this year’s AHM, besides WAHO’s 2017 annual report that will be presented for validation, some key issues that require the adoption by the Assembly of Health Ministers will also be presented. These include: (1) Regional Laboratory Strategic Plan; (2) Regional Biobank Regulation; (3) Regional Mental Health Strategic Plan; (4) Common Technical Document on Pharmaceutical Regulation; (5) Key Orientations of the Evaluation of Reference Hospitals; and (6) Banjul Declaration on Fistula by ECOWAS First Ladies.
The five-day meeting will be conducted as follows:
• 4 June 2018, Liaison Officers Meeting: WAHO has representatives in each country and are mostly high ranking officials of the Ministry of Health. They serve as liaison between WAHO and the Ministry of Health and represent WAHO on some assignments in the country. The June 4 meeting is to discuss WAHO’s activities in the countries, reiterate their roles and responsibilities and validate their action plan for 2018.
• 5 – 6 June 2018, Health Experts Meeting: WAHO a technical committee made up of health experts from the 15 ECOWAS member States. This committee reviews WAHO key documents that the approval and adoption of the Ministers of Health. At this 19th AHM, the six key documents listed above will be examined.
• 7 June 2018, Partners Forum: This is a forum where WAHO traditional and potential partners and donors and brought together to discuss their collaboration with WAHO.
• 8 June 2018, Health Ministers Meeting: This is the climax of the AHM. This is the meeting that brings together all the 15 Ministers of Health of ECOWAS countries, where key decisions are taken. At the end of the meeting, a Final Communiqué is issued and this contained the list of key decisions and resolutions taken to ensure the wellbeing of the people in the ECOWAS region.
His Excellency, Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia is expected to deliver the Keynote Address at the official opening ceremony on 8 June 2018.