Meeting of the task force for the establishment of the African Volunteer Health Corps (AVOHC)

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What: Task Force meeting for the establishment of the African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC)

Who: African Union Commission (Social Affairs Department)

When: 30th November -1st December 2015 at 08:00 AM.

Where: African Union New Conference Center (Small Conference Hall 3), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Objectives:

Improve on the Draft Proposal for the operationalization of the AVoHC and make concrete recommendations to the Policy Organs for endorsement; Define the modalities of the collaboration and cooperation between Departments within the Commission as well as with Partners taking into account their comparative advantage in the process; Consider the administrative, financial and legal aspects of the operationalization of the AVoHC.

Expected Outcomes:

Finalization of the Draft Proposal including a comprehensive and concise Roadmap for the establishment and functioning AVoCH by 2016. An expressed commitment of key partners to collaborate and synergize action for the operationalization of the AVoHC.

Participants: The participants will include AU Member States, GOARN, IFRC, MSF, WHO, Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Trust, AHA, OCHA, Institut Pasteur Dakar, US CDC, China, EU, Japan as well as the relevant departments in the AUC (AHRM, HRST, DIC, OLC, PBFA, PS, DPA, DSA…).

Background: The African Union Heads of State and Government in Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.570(XXV) of June 2015, requested the Commission in collaboration with Member States and Development Partners to establish an African Volunteer Health Corps to be deployed during disease outbreaks and other health emergencies and to report regularly to the Assembly on progress made.

In line with the above mandate, the Commission has developed a draft proposal for the establishment of an African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC). The draft was presented and discussed during the Evaluation Workshop of African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) that took place in Mahe, Seychelles from 26-28 October 2015. The meeting recommended that a Task Force being formed to work out the practical modalities for the operationalization of AVoHC. The African Volunteer Health Corps will fill the gaps in human resources capacity to respond to the epidemics and public health emergencies in the continent in a timely and effective manner.

The Task Force will examine the modalities, structure, financial and legal implications of the establishment of the volunteer corps and make recommendations for consideration of the Policy organs of the Union including the STC on Health Population and Drug Control, the Executive Council and the Assembly.

Media representatives are invited to cover the event.