ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the World Health Organization (WHO) and African Union (AU) have called for African-led health sovereignty to end the continent's historical dependence on external financing.
The 76th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa on Tuesday brought together African health ministers and leaders of regional and international health institutions in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, said the session will review Africa's determination to shape its own health future and make decisions and recommendations to improve health services across the continent.
"This is an important step toward reducing the nearly 7 billion U.S. dollars our continent spends each year referring patients abroad. Our vision is simple: strengthen Africa's centers of excellence, connect African patients to African expertise, and keep Africa's investments working for Africa," Janabi said.
According to Janabi, African countries have strengthened surveillance systems, expanded access to essential health services, advanced universal health coverage, improved regulatory capacity, and responded to outbreaks with growing speed and confidence over the past years.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said Africa is striving to create conditions for health sovereignty through the production of vaccines and allocation of ever-increasing budgets to strengthen its collective capacity to prevent, detect, and combat health threats.
"The absence of health sovereignty on our continent is no longer optional. We need to explore all possible means to reach self-reliance, from financing to local production and research and innovation," Youssouf said.
Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, who was the guest of honor, noted that climate change is exerting unprecedented pressure on African communities, while conflict disrupts vital health services, displaces vulnerable populations, and triggers cross-border humanitarian crises.
"These profound challenges offer a historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen its collective voice, deepen regional cooperation, and assume full ownership of its health architecture," said Atske Selassie.
The 76th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, slated to run through Friday, is set to endorse regional health policies, strategies and plans to improve health outcomes across Africa. ■
