27 Aug 2024

Minister of Health, Honourable Dr Edwin Dikoloti is in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, to attend the 74th World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa meeting which takes place this week and will end on Saturday.

A press release from the Ministry of Health states that the WHO Regional Committee for Africa is the organisation’s decision-making body on health policy in the African Region

It says the committee comprises ministers of health or their representatives from the 47 member states in the Africa region.

The release also says that it is held annually and rotates within the forty-seven member states in the African region.

"Minister Dr Dikoloti, whose chairmanship of this WHO organ ends this month, will hand over the chairmanship to another Minister of Health, who will be announced at the end of the meeting," the release says.

Regarding the agenda, the release says this year’s agenda comprises the development of WHO sub regional emergency hubs, progress report on the framework for strengthening the use of evidence information and research for policy-making in the African Region.

The agenda will also look at the progress report on the regional strategy for health securities and emergencies and the framework for implementation of the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health concern.

It will also address the regional strategy for the management of environmental determinants of human health in the African Region among others.

During Dr Dikoloti’s absence, Assistant Minister of Health, Honourable Sethomo Lelatisitswe, will be the acting Minister of Health. Minister Dikoloti is expected back in office on September 2. ends