South African President Zuma Concludes Visit To Uganda
South African President Jacob Zuma, today, concluded his visit to Kampala, Uganda, where he attended the 15th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union which started on 24 July 2010.
In his address at the summit he conveyed his condolences to the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the people of Uganda for thetragic terrorist attack that happened at the end of the World Cup. He indicated that the terrorist attack was “not just directed at the people of Uganda alone but was directed at all the people of the continent and the world”. He also pledged to walk and act together with the Ugandan people through the African Union (AU) as they fought to combat terrorism.
President Zuma also thanked the Heads of State and governments for their support during the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa, saying that this was a fulfillment of the vision that African leaders had of seeing: “a proud African people united in their diversity who walk tall amongst the other people of our common universe”.
President Zuma, also saluted the role played by the ordinary people of the continent in supporting the World Cup, saying “they did so with such genuine African vibrancy”, and also congratulated the performance of all African teams which participated in the World Cup especially “the Black Stars of Ghana for flying the African flag high”.
In his input on the main Summit Theme: “Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa”, President Zuma also highlighted progress made by the South African government in dealing with the maternal, infant and child health. He mentioned that since 1997 the South African government had made maternal deaths notifiable, which helps in identifying and addressing the causes.
President Zuma also highlighted successes made by the South African government in dealing with maternal deaths by indicating that there was now “free health care to pregnant and lactating women and to children under the age of six”. He also mentioned the passing of the law on “Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996, as amended in 2008” as a positive development, as it allows registered nurses and midwives to terminate pregnancies which are up to 12 weeks, which allows women not to provide reasons for terminating.
President Zuma also said the South African government developed guidelines for the treatment of the major causes of maternal deaths and introduced the Basic Antenatal Care. South Africa has also since April 2010 prioritised pregnant women and children in terms of access to HIV treatment, where women and children are started earlier on treatment compared to other people. There is also a programme for the training of doctors in Emergency Care of Women.
President Zuma called on all donors to support a fully-funded Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria during its October 2010 replenishment conference, recognizing the Global Fund’s role as a vital partner in achieving the health related Millennium Development
Goal.”
On the sidelines, President Zuma, continued with his programme of engaging and consulting with other President’s within the African Union in his quest to find common ground on matters that are being deliberated upon during the summit. He met with the Presidents of Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika; Angola, President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, Republic of the Congo, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso; Mozambique, President Armando Guebuza and the Prime Minister of Lesotho Pakalitha Mosisili. President Zuma also met with the leader of Libya Mo’ummar Gaddafi.
President Zuma to returned to South Africa today.
