2010 Regional preparatory meeting for África on women and health

A regional preparatory meeting on the theme “Women and Health” will be held on 12-13 January 2010 in Dakar, Senegal. The meeting will be hosted by the Government of Senegal, in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The meeting is part of the preparatory process for the 2010 Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) on “Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to gender equality and the empowerment of women”. It is an opportunity for a cross-section of regional stakeholders to share best practices, challenges, trends, policies and programmes on issues that are specific to the region.
Countries in Africa have been faced with some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, as well as the highest HIV/AIDS rates. Different panel discussions will address these concerns as they relate to women’s health and empowerment. The meeting will be comprised of five sessions that enable participants to engage with expert panelists on the topics of maternal health and mortality, strengthening access to HIV/AIDS health interventions, and promoting women’s empowerment through health knowledge and participation. On the second day of the meeting, participants will share best practices and new initiatives on women’s healthcare from across the region.
For more information on the meeting, please contact Mr. Alberto Padova, Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, UN/DESA (+1 212 963-4759, padova at un dot org).