From June 24-28, CAPPD co-chair, the Honourable Senator Marilou McPhedran, represented Canada on a parliamentary delegation to Zambia. The study tour was organized by the European Parliamentary Forum (EPF) and the African Parliamentary Forum (FPA) with the objectives of bringing parliamentarians together to learn and strategize around the issues of universal health coverage (UHC), health financing, immunization and the ICPD Programme of Action.

Senator McPhedran joined other visiting parliamentarians (from countries including Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Ghana, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Turkey and the UK) in meeting with Zambian parliamentarians and touring key sites that deliver essential SRHR services in Zambia.
The group took part in the ‘Lusaka Parliamentarians’ Dialogue on ICPD25’ at the National Assembly of Zambia, where the Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia delivered a keynote address underscoring the critical role of parliamentarians to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The parliamentarians also visited the Zambian Ministry of Health, the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia, a mobile sexual and reproductive health clinic run by Marie Stopes International (and co-funded by Canada) and other service delivery points. During these visits, parliamentarians were able to learn about the progress Zambia has made in advancing sexual and reproductive health and some of the persisting challenges they face.

The Zambian Parliament and visiting parliamentarians released a communique following the ‘Lusaka Parliamentarians’ Dialogue on ICPD25’. The communique affirms the Ottawa Statement of Commitment and African Parliamentarians Kigali Communique and commits to make UHC, health financing and population and development issues a political priority. Read the full communique here.

Learn more about the parliamentary delegation and study tour to Zambia.