Health and Medical Care
Princess of Africa Foundation President Chaka Chaka Pays a Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Abe
On March 3, commencing at 2:10 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from Ms. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, President of the Princess of Africa Foundation. The overview is as follows. (Also present were Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, member of the House of Representatives (Chairman, Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship Association; Co-chair, Friends of the Global Fund, Japan Diet Task Force), Mr. Yoshiomi Tamai, President of Ashinaga, and others.)
1. President Chaka Chaka stated that Japan plays a leading role in areas such as universal health coverage (UHC), maternal and child health (MCH), and nutrition; thanked Prime Minister Abe for his leadership; and expressed gratitude for the approximately 1.1 billion USD in support for international health organizations that Prime Minister Abe announced (PDF)
at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit. She also expressed the hope that Japan would make further contributions on vaccines in collaboration with related international organizations.
2. President Chaka Chaka further stated that she had visited the township of Mashiki in Kumamoto Prefecture on the occasion of this visit to Japan and had been very impressed to see how the victims of the earthquake disaster were working on reconstruction, and expressed her hope that the reconstruction would further progress so that the victims of the disaster could return to their homes as soon as possible.
3. In response, Prime Minister Abe expressed his happiness to be able to meet her again, and his respect for President Chaka Chaka’s active efforts on the issues of poverty and infectious diseases. He also stated that Japan places importance on MCH, that he led the discussion at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit last year, and that Japan collaborates closely with related international organizations on policy, human resources, and funding among other matters, and will continue to contribute actively in the field of global health. Furthermore, he conveyed the intent to undertake with determination the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which reflect the concept of human security.
4. Prime Minister expressed gratitude to President Chaka Chaka for visiting disaster-hit areas whenever she visits Japan to cheer on the reconstruction, and conveyed the intent to move forward with reconstruction as quickly as possible. He also stated that Japan would be going forward with cooperation on human resource development and education toward Africa’s development and also utilizing Japan’s experience and strengths to go forward with cooperation on disaster risk reduction.
Reference: Ms. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, President of the Princess of Africa Foundation.
A singer from South Africa, she is actively engaged in efforts to resolve issues of poverty and infectious diseases. She conducts charitable activities through the Princess of Africa Foundation, which she founded herself, and also serves as goodwill ambassador for international organizations including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Roll Back Malaria Goodwill Ambassador, and “Furusato (hometown)” Ambassador for the city of Kamaishi. She previously met Prime Minister Abe in Tokyo in May 2013.