AIDE MEMOIRE

	Introduction
	Rationale for the Summit
	Objectives of the Special Summit
	Expected Outcomes of the Special Summit
	Mandate
	Format of the Special Summit
	Key Participants
	Documentation
	Follow-Up Action

INTRODUCTION

1. At the invitation of H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the AU Commission, in collaboration with un Agencies and other development partners, will organize a Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (A.T.M.) in Abuja, Nigeria from 2 to 4 May 2006. The theme of the Special Summit is “ Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services by 2010 ”. This was deemed necessary because HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria remain the three major causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa; and thus serious challenges to socio-economic development and human security.

2. The main aim of the Special Summit is to review the status of implementation of the Declarations and Frameworks for Action on the 2000 Abuja Summit on Roll Back Malaria, and the 2001 Abuja Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Related Infectious Diseases (ORID), and to adopt a renewed commitment for halting and then reversing the impact of these diseases by ensuring universal access to services.

3. The outcome of the 2001 Abuja Summit was Africa's contribution to the June 2001 UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS which adopted the Declaration of Commitment on AIDS. In the same vein, the Special Summit will also prepare Africa's Common Position to the June UNGASS on AIDS, whose objective is to review the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on AIDS. The AU Commission, in collaboration with UNAIDS and WHO also organized a Continental Consultative Meeting on Universal Access to preventing Care and Treatment on HIV/AIDS in March in Congo Brazzaville. The meeting adopted the Commitment on Scaling Up Towards Universal Access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support in Africa by 2010 which will be Africa's contribution to the global process spearheaded by a Global steering Committee Co-chaired by UNAIDS and DFID

RATIONALE FOR THE SUMMIT

4. In spite of the progress made in combating the three diseases since the Abuja declarations of 2000/1, evaluation reports on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria indicate that:

•  Africa, south of the Sahara with just over 10% of the world's population, is home to more than 60% of all people living with HIV in the world. In 2005, between 2.8 million – 3.9 million people in the region became newly infected with HIV, while 2.4 million adults and children died of AIDS.

•  Africa accounts for more than a quarter of all the TB cases reported in the world and the epidemic continues to increase despite the implementation of effective TB control strategies by many countries.

•  Approximately 35% of all TB patients in Africa are HIV-positive, compared to 80% globally. In 2003, an estimated 80% of the people co-infected with TB and HIV who died were in Africa.

•  About 60% of the cases of malaria worldwide, about 75% of global P. falciparum (the most dangerous type) malaria cases and more than 80% of malaria deaths occur in Africa south of the Sahara. At highest risk are pregnant women and children under 5 years

•  Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria in Africa and 90% of the half billion malaria cases recorded annual occur in Africa. Malaria and poverty interact in a vicious circle and recent evidence shows that there is a link between malaria and HIV. For instance, malaria infection during pregnancy may increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

•  In Africa women and children remain among the most vulnerable groups to the three diseases. In addition, over four million refugees and other displaced people live in sub-Saharan Africa whose peculiar needs have to be addressed in efforts towards combating HIV, TB and Malaria.

•  In a number of countries, social protection systems are either weak or non-existent while health systems challenges, such as poor infrastructure, over reliance on a disease specific approach to health system strengthening, insufficient attention to broader health system wide aspects and insufficient skilled human resources, persist.

•  The linkages between poverty, gender and these diseases are noteworthy and need to be addressed more effectively.

•  There is a large shortfall in projected funding required to meet the Abuja and MDG targets from both domestic and external sources. On the international level, constraints include insufficient harmonization and alignment, volatility and unpredictability of aid, insufficient funding for scaling up and high future recurrent costs from new investments made by the global Health Partnerships.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SPECIAL SUMMIT

5. The objectives of the Special Summit include:

•  To review the achievements made since 2000/2001 to attain the targets of the 2000 and 2001 Abuja Summits, in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs);

•  To identify gaps, constraints and challenges to the achievement of the Abuja and MDGs targets;

•  To identify new strategies that will enable Africa chart a new and more realistic course towards achieving these targets;

•  To obtain renewed commitment by African Leaders for addressing these diseases; and promoting health and well-being in Africa;

•  To strengthen the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) within the Context of the New Partnership for Africa's development (NEPAD); for measuring progress towards achieving social development.

•  Prepare Africa's Common Position to global forums: UNGASS on AIDS (June 2006), World Health Assembly (May 2006)

EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE SPECIAL SUMMIT

6. The expected outcomes of the Summit include:

•  Sharing of Status Report on the implementation of the 2000/2001 Abuja Commitments, including both achievements, gaps, and challenges.

•  New strategies for a more effective fight against these diseases identified.

•  Renewed commitment made by African Leaders to halt and reverse the impact of these diseases, in particular AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) Heads of State and Government.

•  The APRM strengthened to include control of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria included in its reviewed priorities.

•  The African Common Position for the June 2006 UNGASS on AIDS adopted, to enable Africa speak with one voice at the Global Assembly on AIDS.

•  A statement by African Leaders to the May 2006 World Health Assembly.

MANDATE

7. The Special Summit will be organized based on the following mandates by African Leaders:

•  The January 2006 Decision of the Khartoum AU Assembly of Heads of state and Government on:

•  The 2 nd Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Health, including the Gaborone Declaration on A Roadmap Towards Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support;

•  Preparation of African Common Position for the June 2006 UNGASS on AIDS

•  The Progress Report on AIDS Watch Africa (AWA)

•  The March 2006 Brazzaville Commitment on Scaling up towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support.

•  The January 2005 Abuja Summit Decision on the Interim Report on HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and Polio;

•  The 2003 Maputo Declaration on Malaria, HIV/AIDS TB and Other Related Infectious Diseases.

FORMAT OF THE SPECIAL SUMMIT

8. The Special Summit will comprise the following Meetings:

(i) 2 May 2006: Meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC)/Experts (Abuja, Nigeria)

(ii) 3 May 2006: Meeting of Ministers of Health, and Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning, Abuja, Nigeria

(iii) 4 May 2006: Special Assembly of Heads of State and Government

KEY PARTICIPANTS

9. Key participants will include national delegates comprising the Presidency, Representatives of Ministry of Health, and of Finance and Economic Planning, as well as National AIDS Councils; Civil Society Organizations, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) the UN and its Specialized Agencies, Development Partners, and the AU Commission and other AU Organs and Programmes.

DOCUMENTATION

10. The participants will conduct wide-ranging discussions based on appropriate documentation which will include the following:

•  Background Paper on The Abuja Call for Accelerated Action on HIV/AIDs, malaria and TB;

•  Progress Report on Implementation of the 2000/2001 Abuja Declarations and Plans of action on Roll Back Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB and Other Related Infectious Diseases;

•  Best Practices on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria in Africa;

•  Health Institutional Arrangements and Impact;

•  Health Financing in Africa;

•  The Brazzaville Commitment on Scaling Up Towards Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support (March 2006);

•  The Continental Framework on Harmonization of Human Rights for People Infected and Affected by HIV/AIDS;

•  African Union Commission HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan which included the AIDS Watch Africa Strategic Framework

11. The Outcome documents will include:

•  The Abuja Call for Accelerated Action on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria

•  The Draft African Common Position for the UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS (June 2006).

•  Statement to the May 2006 World Health Assembly.

FOLLOW-UP ACTION

12. After the Special Summit, the following actions will be undertaken:

•  The Statement of African Leaders will be presented to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, 15-28 May 2006.

•  The African Common Position will be submitted to the UNGASS on AIDS in New York, USA, June 2006 for consideration.