10th Annual meeting and workshop

The 10th Paris Heart Network annual workshop and meeting took place alongside the PASCAR from May 26-28th 2011 in Kampala, Uganda.

Members in attendance were Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Ghana and Seychelles. The General Assembly and workshop was also attended by other delegates to the conference. AHN welcomed Johanna Ralston, Chief Executive, and WHF to her first AHN annual meeting and workshop. Cameroon sent their apologies. The meeting and workshop provided a forum to share, network, build the capacity of members as well as increase the influence and visibility of AHN and its members with regard to CVD prevention and reduction in Africa.

The AHN President delivered his annual report as did the Executive Secretary and both focused on the performance and delivery of the AHN Strategic objectives. South Africa heart and Stroke Foundation agreed to continue to provide Secretariat support whilst the production of the AHN newsletter will be undertaken by the Nigerian Heart Foundation. The President acknowledged the contribution of HSFSA to the work of AHN.

AHN welcomed Zambia Heart Foundation and has received applications for membership from the Heart Foundation of Zimbabwe and the National Heart Foundation of Tanzania Current AHN membership is as follows: Cameroon, Congolese Heart Foundation, Ghana Heart Foundation and Ghana Society of Hypertension and Cardiology, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia. Congo Brazzaville membership was terminated in December 2010. With Tanzania and Zimbabwe, AHN membership will increase to 16 members.

Dr Habib Gamra, AHN vice president delivered his presentation about growing AHN membership, the challenges and achievements over the last 10 years which should be celebrated. AHN works through four subgroups –Salt, Tobacco, Fundraising and Research which face a range of challenges.

The UN High level summit and the advocacy work has been a major focus of AHN over the last 12 months. A regional approach needs to be considered. Although it is anticipated that funding for NCD work will come, the post summit action plan is seen as important. The 2012 AHN annual meeting and workshop will hold during the WCC to be held in Dubai in April 2012.