CAMH V. Fifth Conference of African Ministers of Health

The preparatory meeting for the OAU Conference of African Ministers of Health (CAMH V), was held in August 1994 in Addis Ababa with the participation of several organizations such as UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, ICRC, and ALERT. The IAC was represented by the President and Dr. Tamunosa Okiwelu, IAC Program Officer. The meeting discussed at length the themes dealt with by previous conferences of African Ministers of Health, for the purpose of identifying pressing health concerns to be presented as topics for the upcoming meeting, scheduled to take place in April 1995. IAC seized the occasion and proposed "The Health of Women Across Their Life Cycle" to be the theme. After discussions and slight modifications "The Situation of Women in Africa in the Context of Family Health" was accepted as a topic for the main document. The IAC was assigned to prepare it in collaboration with other agencies. The IAC Executive Secretary, Mrs. Caroline Koroma, visited the WHO headquarters in Geneva to collect information and to work with experts in the field. IAC hopes to present to the health ministers harmful traditional practices as a critical area of concern for African women and children. Cairo is the host city for this important conference.