The 130 participants focused on key NCDs and UHC-related agenda items: framework for implementing the Global Plan of Action of the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030; Framework for Strengthening the Use of Evidence, Information and Research for Policy-making in the African Region; and the Framework for Implementing the Global Strategy on Digital Health. Key highlights of the debate also helped the ANN develop a civil society statement on “Agenda Item 13: Implementation of the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of Cervical Cancer as a public health problem in the WHO African Region”. 

The NCD Alliance supported a virtual delegation from ANN to participate at the AFRO RCM, including Henry Ndhlovu from the Malawi NCD Alliance and George Msengi from the Tanzania NCD Alliance, both members of the ANN Secretariat. 

The civil society statement co-signed by NCD Alliance, Africa NCDs Network and its 40-member CSO’s, was submitted to WHO AFRO and read by Henry Ndhlovu during the meeting. The statement highlights the support of the signatories to Member States in the fight against cervical cancer and other NCDs, particularly through the implementation of the Global Strategy in the African region, which is expected to lead to a reduction in women dying from this condition. 

Specifically, the statement called on all WHO AFRO Member States to: 

• prioritise cervical cancer elimination through cost-effective, evidence-based interventions (including HPV vaccination);  

• integration of screening into primary health care;  

• prioritisation of training for primary health care professionals on screening and effective referral to other levels of care;  

• intensification of awareness campaigns at schools and communities;  

• meaningful involvement of people with lived experience in service provision and policies/programmes; 

• promotion of innovative digital health/telemedicine; 

• partnerships and collaborative work involving civil society, academic sector and relevant private sector.