South-Africa joins PPD

PPD mandate for the promotion of Reproductive Health, Population and Development through South-South Cooperation is gaining positive image and this has been reinforced by the interest of Developing Countries to join the alliance. At the Annual Board Meeting 2007 of PPD, South-Africa expressed its intention to join the alliance which was approved unanimously by all Board Members. H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing, Chair, PPD Board and Minister of NPFPC, Government of the People’s Republic of China and Mr. Harry S. Jooseery, Executive Director of PPD welcomed South-Africa and wished that South-Africa will share its potentialities, experiences and expertise with other member countries in the context of South-South Cooperation.

Ethiopia, Ghana and Philippine also intend to join the alliance shortly.

China Double its Annual Membership Contribution to PPD

At the Twelfth Executive Committee Meeting and Board Meeting of PPD, H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing, Chair of PPD Board announced that China will double its annual membership contribution $20,000 to $40,000 from January 2008. China had in the past singed 3 Memorandum of Understanding with PPD for the member countries on Capacity Building, Reproductive Health Commodity Supply and Transfer of Technology. Mr. Harry, the ED of PPD thanks the Chair for inspiring leadership through his commitments to South-South Cooperation and to PPD sustainability.

H.E. Mr. Oumar Ibrahim TOURE, Vice-Chair of PPD Board and Honourable Minister of Health, Mali presenting a plaque to H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing, Chair, PPD Board and Minister of NPFPC, Government of the People’s Republic of China

A plaque was handed over to H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing by H.E. Mr. Oumar Ibrahim TOURE, Vice-Chair of PPD Board and Honourable Minister of Health, Mali in recognition of the excellent and inspiring leadership of the Chair in promoting South-South Collaboration. The ceremony was held in Rabat, Morocco on 20th November 2007.

Partners Country Coordinator (PCC) Meeting

PPD and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco jointly organized the PCC meeting on 19th November 2007 in Rabat Morocco. The objective of the meeting was to review and discuss PPD activities from November 2006 to October 2007. The meeting was attended by international experts and PCCs of PPD member states.

The following issues were presented and discussed:

- The Program Overview of PPD
- The Strategic Plan for Africa
- The Capacity Building Plan
- The Human Resource Development Plan
- The Strategic Business Plan

Participants of the PCC meeting

The participants appreciated and congratulated innovative activities undertaken by PPD. They agreed that the implementation of these Plans should be supported by the Member Countries at National level, where PCCs can play greater role by involving other Ministries and mobilizing resources. The role of civil society organization through networking was also noted to be crucial for the implementation of the Plans. PCCs urged for a strengthening of the Regional Networks in Africa. The contributions of China in Capacity Building, RH Commodity Supply and Transfer of Technologies were well received and appreciated by the participants.

Twelfth Executive Committee Meeting

PPD organized the Twelfth Executive Committee (EXCO) Meeting at Hotel La Tour Hassan in Rabat, Morocco on 19th December 2007. The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing, Chair, PPD Board and Minister of NPFPC, Government of the People’s Republic of China. The meeting was attended by H.E. Mr. Oumar Ibrahim Toure, Vice Chair, PPD Board and Minister of Health, Government of Mali; Mr. Charles Zirarema, Acting Director, Population Secretariat, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda representing Treasurer of PPD H.E. Late Mr. Omwony Ojwok, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda; Dr. Fouad Hamadi, General Secretary, Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Morocco representing the Secretary of PPD Board, H. E. Madam Yasmina Baddou, Minister of Health, Government of Morocco; Mr. BM Jamal Hossain representing the Honourable Board Member of Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. ASM Matiur Rahman, Minister of Health and family Welfare, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; and Mr. Harry S. Jooseery, Executive Director, PPD.

The participants reviewed and adopted the minutes of the Eleventh Board Meeting held in Beijing China on 11 November 2006, the matters arising from the decisions of the Beijing Board Meeting and Executive Committee Meeting, the programmatic, operational and financial issues of PPD.

In the panel from the left Mr. Harry S. Jooseery, Executive Director of PPD, H.E. Mr. Oumar Ibrahim Toure, Vice Chair, PPD Board and Minister of Health, Government of Mali, H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing, Chair, PPD Board and Minister of NPFPC, Government of the People’s Republic of China and Dr. Fouad Hamadi, General Secretary, Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Morocco

The EXCO members approved the Capacity Development Plan, the Human Resource Development Plan and the Strategic Business Plan.Members thanked the UNFPA, the Hewlett Foundation, the Packard Foundation, and the Government of Netherlands for their technical and financial support to PPD. They also reviewed the agenda and preparations for the 2007 twelfth Board Meeting in Rabat, Morocco.

The EXCO members approved also a number of important decision as recommended by the Executive Director.

International Forum on “Universal Access to Reproductive Health for the Attainment of ICPD Goals and MDGs”

PPPD in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco organized from 20 to 21 November 2007 in Rabat Morocco an International Forum on “Universal Access to Reproductive Health for the Attainment of ICPD goals and MDGs” . The objectives were:

1. To inform the participants on the falling importance and assistance to Reproductive Health by the international community and its subsequent global impact and consequence.
2. To urge policy makers and opinion leaders to reposition FP in the context of RH and HIV/AIDS integration Programme
3. To urge Governments and donors to provide more assistance to Reproductive Health for the promotion of ICPD and MDGs.
4. To develop a set of policy recommendations that will be shared with all stakeholders
5. To design a guide map that will help to reorient national and regional Programme to achieve universal access to Reproductive Health.

It was attended by cabinet ministers, senior government officials, prominent international development experts, eminent thinkers and scholars, representatives of selected NGOs, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA, representatives of donor countries and agencies and private foundations.

At the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing, Chair, PPD Board and Minister of NPFPC, Government of the People’s Republic of China, H. E. Madam Yasmina Baddou, Secretary of PPD Board and Minister of Health, Government of Morocco, Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director (Programme) UNFPA and Mr. Harry S. Jooseery, Executive Director of PPD highlighted the importance of the Universal Access to RH for the attainment of ICPD Goals and MDGs and urged the participants to make meaningful recommendations for the promotion of RH, Population and development through South-South Cooperation.

In the opening session from the left H.E. Mr. Zhang Weiqing, Chair, PPD Board and Minister of NPFPC, Government of the People’s Republic of China, H. E. Madam Yasmina Baddou, Secretary of PPD Board and Minister of Health, Government of Morocco, Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director (Programme) UNFPA and Mr. Harry S. Jooseery, Executive Director of PPD

The participants of the International Forum reviewed, discussed and made recommendations on the burning issues such as repositioning FP; Integration of RH and HIV/AIDS; Reproductive Health Commodity Supply and Security; Women empowerment and RH; Adolescent Sexual and RH; Financial Resources for RH Care.

Donor agencies such as UNFPA, shared their concern on financial constrains for reproductive health, population and development and made greater commitment for technical and financial assistance to PPD and Reproductive Health Programmes in developing countries. They committed to support South-South Cooperation as a key strategy for universal access to reproductive health for the attainment of the ICPD goals and MDGs.

Policy makers, experts and government officials recognized the importance of national budget for South-South Cooperation for the promotion of Reproductive Health and Population and Development programme. They also committed to advocate for the development of national budget and will implement in collaboration with PPD programmes through South – South Collaboration.

The Rabat Declaration was developed to enable effective operationalization of the meeting recommendations. The Declaration was adopted by the Board Members of PPD. Click here to see the Rabat Declaration.

Twelfth Annual Board Meeting of PPD

The XII Annual Board Meeting of PPD was organized in Rabat, Morocco on 22 November 2007 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Morocco. The Meeting was presided over by H.E. Mr. Zhang Weqing, Chair, PPD and Minister of National Population and Family Planning Commission of China and was attended by the Ministers, Board Members, Partners Country Coordinators (PCCs) of PPD Member States, UNFPA and Government delegations from Ghana, Philippines and South Africa. Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director (Programme) UNFPA and UN Assistant Secretary-General represented UNFPA at the Board Meeting.

Participants of the Twelfth Annual Board Meeting

The Board also approved, among others, the Strategic Business Plan, Capacity Development Plan, Strategic Plan for Africa and the Human Resource Plan

The Board decided to hold the next Annual Board Meeting in Sana’a, Yemen in November 2008.

PPD Mourns

The Honourable Treasurer of PPD, H.E. Mr Omwony Ojwok, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Government of Uganda passed away on 10th November at 1am in the Intensive Care Unit of Mulago Hospital due to suspected heart failure.

H.E. Mr Omwony Ojwok

The Chair and Board Members of PPD, Executive Director and Staff of PPD Secretariat, expressed their deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved wife, children, family and friends of the deceased Minister. We wish they find solace in the memories of the Honourable Minister. Mr. Ojwok was a man of great intellect, wisdom and human kindness, with a loving smile always on his lips. It is indeed a great loss for Uganda and the developing world and to PPD.