The Seventieth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa was held virtually on 25 August 2020 and resumed on 24 November 2020. It was held under the special procedures to regulate the conduct of the virtual session of the Regional Committee for Africa. Special events on the COVID-19 response in the region took place on both dates. On 25 August, another key event on Celebrating certification of wild poliovirus eradication in the WHO African Region was held. In terms of issues emanating from global mandates, the  Seventieth Regional Committee considered the document on the Development of the Programme budget 2022-2023, the development of the global action plan on patient safety as well as WHO Transformation. Under a written silence procedure, the Committee adopted eleven technical documents and seven information documents. The Regional Committee ultimately decided that its Seventy-first session will be held in Lomé, Togo, on 23-27 August 2021.

The resumed session of WHO Regional Committee for Africa was live-streamed on our facebook and youtube channels.

Documents to be considered by the resumed session of the Regional Committee

• Special Event on the COVID-19 Response in the Region
• AFR/RC70/Decision 1 Rev.1 Revised special procedures
• AFR/RC70/1 Agenda
• AFR/RC70/1. Add.3 Abridged Agenda
• AFR/RC70/1. Add.4 Programme of Work of the Virtual Session
• AFR/RC70/6 WHO Programme Budget
• AFR/RC70/15 Draft provisional agenda, place and dates of the seventy-first session of the Regional Committee
• AFR/RC70/INF.DOC/8 Outcome of the Written Silence Procedure

The virtual session of the 70^th Regional Committee for Africa was held on 25 August 2020, starting at 09:30 hours GMT + 1. This virtual session was held under the Special procedures to regulate the conduct of the virtual session of the Regional Committee for Africa. Two key events were held during the virtual session, firstly on the COVID-19 response in the region, and secondly on Celebrating certification of wild poliovirus eradication in the WHO African Region.

Special Procedures for the conduct of the virtual session of the Regional Committee

• AFR/RC70/Decision 1 Special procedures to regulate the conduct of the virtual session
• AFR/RC70/Decision 1 Rev.1 Revised special procedures
• AFR/RC70/Decision 2 Election of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairpersons and Rapporteurs of the Regional Committee