BRAZZAVILLE, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The 74th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa opened Monday in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo.
During the opening ceremony, the President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso called on African states to form a coalition in support of the "Quality in primary health care" initiative.
The 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa will be held in Brazzaville from Aug. 26 to 30, under the patronage of the President of the Republic.
"Disease vectors know no borders; prevention through vaccination and adherence to regulations are the best ways to ensure the health of our populations, notably through quality nutrition and the practice of sports," he stated.
Sassou, who considers health as a wealth of humanity, advocated for the fight against communicable diseases, including meningitis, cholera, ebola, and now mpox, which Africa continues to face despite the efforts made by the states.
Nearly 1,000 people, including the WHO General Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and health ministers from 47 member countries, are participating in this session, which will discuss several health issues concerning the African continent, with topics including "Transformation for Results: Strengthening African Health Systems through WHO Reforms," "WHO Investment Cycle: Amplifying Africa's Voice," "Addressing the Public Health Emergency of Preventable Child Mortality in the WHO African Region."
The 74th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa will conclude with the election of a new director, to replace Matshidiso Moeti, who is completing her term. ■