The Sixth Conference of AU Ministers of Health is to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 22-26 April 2013 with the theme, “The Impact of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) on Development in Africa”.
The theme is inspired by Part 2 of the Africa Health Strategy 2007-2015, particularly paragraphs 6-8. Paragraph 6, inter alia states: “Nonetheless, the reality remains that Africa’s people face a huge burden of preventable and treatable health problems whose solutions are known, proportionately far beyond Africa’s share of the world’s population. The triple burden from communicable and non-communicable diseases and injury and trauma, including the social impact of these, has adversely affected development in Africa”.
In addition, paragraph 8 is emphatic: “The alarming rate of growth of the burden of both death and disability from non-communicable diseases in Africa is ever more recognized, with chronic diseases becoming more prevalent, linked to demographic, behavioural and social changes and urbanization…” On the other hand, paragraph 7 reminded of neglected tropical diseases that severely debilitate communitis affected by them.
