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4 March 2007,

Director of Ceremonies,
Hon Minister Prof Sheila Tlou, our host
Executive Director of the Global Health Workforce Alliance
Representative of the African Union (AU),
Representative of the European Commission,
World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Kalilani,
Organisations here present,
Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
Permanent Secretaries/Director General of Health, Education, Public Service, Finance from Members of the AU,
Representatives of the Global and Regional International Partners,
Senior Government Officials,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
All protocol observed,

It is indeed an honour and privilege to be afforded the opportunity to present closing remarks at this high level technical consultative meeting on strengthening political support for health workforce development to tackle HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

First of all, Programme Director, allow me to express our sincere gratitude to the Government of Botswana and in particular, Honourable Minister Prof Sheila Tlou for accepting to host this important meeting. This Hon Minister is a demonstration of your excellent leadership and political commitment, as the current Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Ministers of Health, in addressing health challenges affecting health on our continent.

I noted that this meeting was scheduled over the weekend. I want to believe that this was deliberate to ensure that our Host Minister would personally be available given the urgency of preparing properly for the AU Health Ministers' Conference next month. This reflects the personal commitment of Prof Tlou to the cause of Human Resources for Health in Africa.

Our sincere appreciation to all of you from different government ministries responsible for Education, Finance, Planning and Public Service, representatives from civil society, international and regional partners including research institutions present here today to explore strategies to address the health human resources crisis affecting our health services and the people of our continent. This is a reflection of how each and every one of us has prioritised the urgent need to address the health human resources crisis. It confirms your commitment to the improvement of the health status of our people.

The output from this meeting in the form of Draft Recommendations presented to us this afternoon, confirms the amount of effort discharged in the last few days in order to have succinct recommendations prepared for the AU Ministers of Health and first Inter-Ministerial Consultation. The excellent facilities availed to us here have provided and assisted in the meeting achieving its objectives.

Director of Ceremonies,

Allow me to express our gratitude to the organisers of this meeting particularly the WHO and European Commission for providing technical and financial support respectively. It is because of your support that all delegates could be brought together to deliberate on this issue; your support is highly appreciated.

South Africa is committed to addressing the challenges of human resources for health. As the proud host country of the Conference of Health Ministers of the African Union from Monday, 9 to Friday, 13 April 2007; we look forward to consideration of the reports and recommendations by the Ministers and the action that will follow. The Inter-Sectoral Ministerial Consultation meeting in April 2007; the meeting will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Finally, let me thank all the participants for making time to come to this meeting in an effort to assist the African continent address human resources crisis.

Ke a leboga
Siyabonga
Thank You
Merci
Muto Brigado

Issued by: Department of Health
4 March 2007