Bamako, 15 June 2009 - Mali's Minister of Health H.E. Oumar Ibrahima Toure opened the Second Annual Inter-Agency Country Health Sector Teams' Meeting in Bamako which focused on operationalizing the principles of the International Health Partnership and related initiatives (IHP+) at the country level. Participants from a dozen country teams also discussed ways forward on implementing the Harmonization for Health in Africa (HHA) agenda, a key component of the international partnership. 
 

Bamako Meeting Documents 

More on MoH Mali website
 

The report of the Taskforce on International Innovative Financing for Health Systems, co-chaired by Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister and Robert Zoellick, President of the World Bank, was completed on 29th May at the third Taskforce meeting held in Paris

Read Summary and Recommendations and Main report

WORKING GROUP 1 REPORT
WORKING GROUP 2 REPORT
 

Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister and host of the Taskforce meeting in Paris on 29 May, commented: " It is now vital that, rather than turning off the aid tap, we look for the means to increase flow."

Next Steps

Strong political backing for each of the initiatives recommended is critically important. Successful implementation of these recommendations requires purposeful engagement with civil society, both in donor countries and recipient countries.

The Taskforce will report to the G8 in July 2009. Prior to the UN General Assembly in September 2009 a regular forum will be facilitated by WHO and the World Bank, to allow countries and partners, including civil society, to monitor progress. Co-chair of the Paris meeting, Ivan Lewis, UK International Development Minister said: "The economic downturn will hit the poorest hardest. Many millions of poor people will be forced into extreme poverty and hard won gains in health systems are under threat. Innovative financing initiatives are vital if we are to prevent this financial crisis from becoming a human crisis."
Read the press release from Paris meeting