Joint Action Forum (JAF) fourth session, 9-11 December 1998, Accra, Ghana: final communique

IAFRICAN PROGRAMME FOR ONCHOCERCIASIS CONTROL JOINT ACTION FORUM (JAF) Fourth session, 9-11 December 1998, Accra, Ghana FINAL COMMUNIQUE The fourth session of the Joint Action Forum (JAI) of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) was held in Accra at the kind mvitation of the Government of the Republic of Ghana. The session was attended by delegations from the Participating Countnes, from the Donor community, from members of the Committee of Sponsonng Agencies (f iDP, FAO, the World Bank and WHO), from Non- Governmental Development Organizatrons, from the Carter Center and from the Mectizan Donation Programme (the list of participants is attached as Annex 1). Participants were welcomed by Dr Kofi Ahmed who read a statement on behalf of the Minister of Health of Ghana, Mr Samuel Nuamah Donkor, followed by statements by Mr Phil Mason, representing the Chair of JAF3, Dr K. YankumDadzie, Director ad interim of APOC, Dr Ebrahim M. Samba, Regional Director WHO-AFRO and Dr Ralph Henderson, Representative of the Director-General of WHO. The key-note address was delivered by Dr (Mrs) Mary Grant, Member of the Council of State, who underhned the importance of a true partnership, so crucial for the success of APOC, a parlnership exemplified by the participation of representatives of the various groups at this assembly in a constructive dialogue. Dr Grant also referred to the full participation of the communities in the Programme, of which they are the principal stakeholders, as an essential element for the success of APOC. She finally wished the Forum full success in its deliberations. A vote of thanks was moved by Miss Yaa Oforiwaa-Acquah. The agenda for the session is attached as Annex 2. For each of the items for which conclusions were arrived at, andlor decisions made, a brief summary is given in the following pages. At the closure of the session, the Joint Actron Forum expressed its gratitude for the warm welcome extended to the particrpants, the hospitality received and the excellent arrangements made by the host country for the organizahon and dehberations of the Forum. Particrpants will receive the full report of the session at a later date 22 3 4 Conclusions and decisions PROGRESS REPORT OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (agenda item 5) The Forum expressed its satrsfaction with the quality and timeliness of the development of APOC supported prolect proposals since the launching of the Programme. JAF commended the APOC Management and all the NOTFs concemed for the good results obtained. The Forum also greatly appreciated the team spirit prevailing within the APOC Management and congratulated its staff for the quality and harmony exhibited in the presentation ofthe 1998 progress report. To ease the work load of the APOC Management team, JAF recommended that WHO Representations in the Participating Counkies become more involved in the technical, financial and managerial support to APOC project activities. The Forum recommended that the denominator applied by NOTFs to compute mass treatment coverage rates be the total population figure to allow comparison between projects and countries. REPORT OF THE TECHNICAL CONSULTATM COMMITTEE (agenda item 6) The Forum recommended that 1 (one) per cent of the funds released to finance APOC supported projects be allocated for appropriate operational research on specific issues of interest to the Programme. REPORT OF A SPECIAL FORUM ON APOC OPERATIONALIZATION IN THE CONTEXT OF ONGOING HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS IN AIRICA (agenda itemT): JAF welcomed the report on the specral forum on APOC operationalization in the context of ongoing health sector reforms convened in response to a request made by JAF during its third session. It encourages APOC to continue this work. REPORT OF THE NGDO COORDINATION GROUP FOR IVERMECTIN DISTRIBUTION INCLUDING SUPPORT OF THE GROUP TO APOC'S ACTTVITIES AND TO LOCAL NGDOS (agenda item 8): The Forum noted with sattsfaction the significant contribution of international NGDOs to APOC operations. It welcomed their commitment and urged all partners to promote closer collaboration with the local NGDOs. 5 6. 7 1 aJ 8 JAF recommended that the APOC community (CSA and the NGDOs group) undertake efforts to extend NGDO support to all those APOC countries which have not yet benefited from such support. JAI notes the funding restraints to NGDO expansion and encourages new mechanrsms and strategies to secure funding necessary for such expansion. COTINTRY REPORTS (agenda item 9) The Forum noted with satisfaction the decision taken by Cameroon to extend the implementation of the CDTI approach to all reoriented and non-reoriented districts of the meso- and hyper-endemic areas. JAF acknowledged the progress made by some Participating Countries in the application of cost-recovery in ivermectm distribution programmes as an element of sustainability in CDTI projects. However, given the results presented, the Forum expressed concern about the possible negative effect of this policy on the coverage rate of mass treatment and therefore strongly recommended that the issue be addressed through operational research by the countries concerned in collaboration with the APOC Management and TDR. The Joint Action Forum commended the national teams for the several issues raised by the delegations present, the mobilization and commitment of the communities, the commitment of governments and the initiation of the CDTI process even in communities facing social unrest. However, the Forum wished to receive a list of the problems raised in the country reports and that the partners likely to help solving them be identified and contacted through proper channels. The Forum noted the factual explanation of the APOC Management conceming the factors which delayed the release of funds for project implementation. It encouraged the Executive Agency (WHO) and the NOTFs concerned to make all efforts to minimize and even avoid such delays in future. The Forum noted with satisfaction the progress made m the Rapid Epidemiological Mapping of Onchocerciasis and encouraged the countries and the APOC Management to continue their efforts towards a complete coverage of all the Participating Countries as soon as possrble. The Forum noted with concern that contrary to the understanding reached, some countries still imposed various forms of import duties and taxes which resulted in delays in release of Mectizan for use in control programmes. The Forum therefore urged that all Participating countries ensure that the rmportation of Mectizan be done without any levies. 9 10 11 t2 13 l4 4REPORT OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LOCATION OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF APOC (agenda item 10): l5 The Forum, after study of the report of the investigation concerning the location of the headquarters of APOC, recommended that consultations be pursued with the interested parties before further consideration be given to this issue in relation to the end of OCP activities; decided that, for the time being, the headquarters of APOC would remain in Ouagadougou. CONSIDERATION OF NATIONAL PLANS AND PROJECT PROPOSALS (agenda item l l): t6. The Joint Action Forum ratified the approval of the national plans and project proposals contained in document J AF 4.7 OPERATIONAL RESEARCH (agenda item 12) 17 The Joint Action Forum acknowledged with satisfaction the fruitful collaboration between APOC and TDR in the field of operahonal research. l8 Regarding CDTI, JAF recommended that the TDR Task Force contact directly APOC Participating Countries to develop action plans for seeking answers to questions of specific tnterest to each country. The Forum encouraged the Task Force to pursue the search for reliable and efficient reporting tools for use at the community level. REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT MONITORING OF CDTI PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION IN MALAWI, MGERIA, SUDAN AND UGANDA (agenda item 14): t9 The Forum noted with interest the important and useful information collected by the teams of scientists commissioned for this task in connection with the follow-up of CDTI projects. While commending the APOC Management, the NOTFs and the scientists involved in this exerclse, the Forum expressed the wish that the recommendations listed in the reports produced by the different teams be carefully studied and promptly implemented if appropriate. 522 20. The Forum further recommended that the involvement of communities be enhanced in all projects and expressed the wish that a speedy solution be found to the problem of treatment of absent members of the community. 2t JAF approved the proposal to develop a simple tool for use by projects and communities to carry out self-monitoring of CDTI activities. This would contribute to improving and strengthening the participation of both the communities and the partners in the monitoring ofproject activities. PLAN OF ACTION AND BUDGET FOR 1999 (agenda item 15) The Joint Action Forum approved the Plan of Action for 1999 and the corresponding budget in the amount of US$ 14 984 000. FINANCING OF THE AFRICAN PROGRAMME FOR ONCHOCERCIASIS CONTROL: (agenda item 16): The Forum noted the report of the World Bank on the financing of Phase I APOC and took note also of the estimated US$ 9 million funding gap stated in the report. The Forum pointed out that unless thrs deficit were filled through an increase in the current financial support, the present growth rate of the implementation of APOC funded projects could not be sustained and ongoing CDTI activities might have to be curtailed. JAF therefore recommended that the current efforts to increase the number of financial contributors be pursued. DATE AND PLACE OF THE FIFTH SESSION (agenda item 18) The date and place of JAF5 would be communicated to JAF participants at a later date. The date would likely be either dunng the first or second week of December 1999. 23 24 25 26.