20 March 2009 -- Health Ministers from Small Island Developing States in Africa have pledged their commitment to strengthen coordination of their activities to address the common health challenges facing them.

At the end of a two day meeting organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Praia, Cape Verde and attended by delegates from Mauritius, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Comoros and Cape Verde, the Ministers adopted the Cape Verde Declaration to reinforce the implementation of action plans following the signing of the Seychelles Declaration in 2006.

They agreed that various important developments in health have taken place since the last meeting namely the adoption of the Ouagadougou Declaration on Primary Health Care and Health Systems, the Bamako Call to Action on Health Research and the Libreville Declaration on Health and Environment. A consensus was reached that whilst considerable progress has been made by each State, since 2006, the deterioration of the environment due to climatic changes, communicable and non-communicable diseases and the challenges posed by the global financial crisis necessitate appropriate efforts to put decisions into practice.

The Cape Verde Declaration among other aspects calls on Member States to appoint national focal persons who will work with the WHO to follow up on actions. It also recommends the development of mechanisms to ban advertising of alcohol and cigarettes in the interest of public health.
Following deliberations on a range of issues, delegates acknowledged that the similarities and ways of living of Small Island States should facilitate the adoption of best practices and identification of strengthened cooperation in the area of health.

In his remarks, the World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, reiterated the importance of prevention, education and multisectoral action to improve the health outcomes of Small Island States. He urged Ministers of Health to increase community awareness about public health issues and in the way in which families and individuals can change their behaviours and adopt healthier life styles.

The AFRO Regional Director highlighted the importance of strengthening the health systems at the local level and reiterated WHO's continued support to Island States to improve health outcomes.

For further information please contact

Collins Boakye-Agyemang, Communications and Advocacy Officer
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E-mail : boakyec [at] afro.who.int (boakyec[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)