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From 1965 through 1990, the state of Massachusetts actively supported South Africa's democratic movement to end apartheid. Citizens of the Commonwealth engaged in multi-level collaborations with anti-apartheid groups, while state government supported divestment legislation, and institutions of higher education provided support for academic scholarships and other training efforts. Recognizing the important role played by many in Massachusetts, Mr. Nelson Mandela included Boston as one of the stops he made on his first US visit in 1990.
In 1994, Massachusetts began taking steps towards the formalization of support for the newly elected government of South Africa, and a year later, Governor William Weld led a trade mission to South Africa. In 1997 he signed a Sister State/Province Agreement between the Province of the Eastern Cape and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that prioritized the development of academic relationships, economic development programs, private investment and community partnerships.
Following the Governor's lead, Dr. Howard K. Koh, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) took steps to develop a bi-lateral relationship in the area of public health, and in 1998 signed a letter of cooperation with the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH). As part of this effort, the Commissioner established the Massachusetts - South Africa Health Task Force in April 2000 to support government-to-government activities and mutually beneficial collaborations.
During its first two years of operation, the Task Force has outlined three broad areas in which potential collaborations are considered.
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Support for the development of the provincial Department of Health's capacity to survey, plan for, resource, and manage the delivery of public health and medical services in the province;
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Support for and projects with the medical school and the University of Transkei (Unitra) in Umtata in its evolving collaborative efforts with the region's district and local health departments and the NGO sector. (Unitra is the site of a crucial historically black medical school.);
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Assistance to selective non-governmental organizations (NGO) whose goals and activities are of mutual public health interest to the Province and to collaborators here in Massachusetts.
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In order to carry out its program, the Task Force has established three groups - the Academic Working Group, the NGO Working Group, and the Departmental Working Group, which develop and support program activities. The Task Force is also committed to supporting the activities of industry and trade partners seeking to improve health care in South Africa.
For up-to-date information on the Projects of the Health Task Force and South Africa Partners, check out our latest
e-newsletter.
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