ACHEST participated in the fourth edition of Joint Annual Scientific Health Conference organized by Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health in collaboration with World Health Organization which was successfully held on 11 – 13 September, 2013 at Silver Springs Hotel, Kampala, Uganda

The conference held under the theme: “The Race to 2015: A reflection on Uganda’s progress towards Millennium Development Goals for Health” sought to assess Uganda’s progress on the MDGs and to anticipate the post –MDGs world. The meeting combined the 9^th Annual Scientific Conference of the Makerere University College of Health Sciences, 21^st Annual Scientific Conference for Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH) and the 12^th Dr. Mathew Lukwiya Memorial Lecture.

JASH is a forum that presents health professionals, decision makers and the public the opportunity to advance out knowledge and careers through dissemination of research work

ACHEST was represented by the Director of Health Systems, Dr. Peter Eriki, who in his message highlighted that progress in some goals has been very impressive; however, global targets are not likely to be met in some regions, especially in sub Saharan Africa. He further noted that the MDGs can only be seen to have been realized when people’s lives and wellbeing is improved and this therefore requires the appreciation of the fact that everyone has a role to play from the policy makers to the implementers and from the researchers to the ultimate beneficiaries - the vulnerable population.

The delegates discussed Environment &Climate Change, Innovations in Health Care Systems, Communicable Diseases, Non Communicable Diseases, Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases, HRH and Health Professional Health, Reproductive Maternal, New born and Child health, Health Rights, Justice and Ethics, and One Health.

Uganda was commended for the efforts made to achieve MDG targets on poverty eradication, rolling out of Universal Primary Education, gender equality, improving child and maternal health and control of HIV / AIDS, TB, and malaria; environmental sustainability and fostering partnerships for development. It was noted that a lot still has to be done on MDGs 4 and 5 to be met by 2015

The world’s governments will be meeting soon at a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 25^th, 2013 to discuss how to accelerate progress on the MDGs in the remaining time to 2015, and to agree on a timetable for a new set of sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).