East Central and Southern Africa Health Community Gathers for RCM Meeting in Maputo

In a significant stride towards enhancing health outcomes in the region, the East Central and Southern Africa health community recently attended a two-day Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) meeting in the picturesque city of Maputo, Mozambique, from November 28th to 29th.

The primary focus of this gathering was to provide RCM Grant Oversight to the Tuberculosis in the Mines in Southern Africa (TIMS) grant. The meeting delved into specific objectives aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the TIMS project. These objectives included a comprehensive review of the progress and challenges encountered during the third phase of the TIMS initiative. Additionally, the meeting facilitated discussions on recommendations from RCM sub-committees and the Technical Committee of National Tuberculosis Programs (NTPs). The overarching goal was to make informed RCM decisions that would enhance the overall execution of the grant.

A noteworthy highlight of the meeting was the introduction of the newly established inter-governmental Southern African Development Community (SADC) governance structure, known as the SADC END TB Committee (SETC). This strategic addition to the regional framework seeks to strengthen collaborative efforts in tackling tuberculosis and pave the way for a seamless transition of the RCM TIMS coordination role to SETC.

Anticipated outcomes of the program include the provision of effective oversight for the TIMS Programme, ensuring a clear strategic direction. Improved coordination and implementation of program interventions are expected to contribute significantly to enhanced TB outcomes in the region. As the health community looks ahead, priorities for the year 2024 were also discussed, setting a roadmap for continued progress and success in the fight against tuberculosis in the mining sector in Southern Africa.