Uganda is set to host the eighth edition of the African Population Conference.
Organised after every four years by the Union for African Population Studies (UAPS), this edition is scheduled to take place between November 18 and 22 at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe.
The Conference on the status of African population aims at ‘sharing and disseminating scientific information on key population, health and development issues facing the African continent and also to promote the integration of research evidence in policy formulation.’
The Conference, according to David Bahati, the Minister Of State For Finance, Planning And Economic Development (Planning) provides an opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing between researchers, policy makers, programme managers, public health experts, international development partners, and other key stakeholders in the population and development field.
It will be held under the theme “Harnessing Africa’s Population Dynamics for Sustainable Development: 25 Years after Cairo and Beyond.”
“This also means that any policies and programmes formulated are evidence-based,” Hon Bahati said in a statement released on Thursday.
“The theme is also relevant to Uganda which is one of the youngest nations in the world. It is important to note that Uganda’s population is predominantly young (over 70% are under the age of 30 years).”
According to the Ndorwa West parliamentary representative, Uganda has made good progress in the field of population and development, some challenges notwithstanding. These include increasing the country’s life expectancy by 20 years in one generation from 43 years in 1991 to 63.3 years in 2017 as well as reducing Infant mortality rate (per 1000) from 122 in 1986 to 43 in 2016.
“Also worth noting is Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births) has reduced from 506 in 1986 to 336 in 2016 while HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has decreased from 18.5% in 1991 to 6.0% in 2016 thanks largely to the good practices of the current government,” he added.
A comprehensive programme developed by the Conference organizers includes a special day that has been dedicated to Uganda to showcase population and development best practices including the rich, diverse and beautiful culture, tourism and environmental beauty that the ‘Pearl of Africa’ has to offer in terms of wildlife safaris, adventure, sport, food, culture and entertainment.
Some of the likely benefits for Uganda as a host country include tapping into the scientific knowledge and research that will be shared in the Conference, in addition to the networking opportunities that will be realized through the presence of various researchers, demographers, statisticians, planners and public health experts from across the world, local organizers say.
The Conference will also provide a boost to Uganda’s hospitality and tourism sector as a result of the big number of guests that will be visiting the country to participate in the Conference.
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