Interview of the WHO Regional Director for Africa “I have put in my candidacy for the post of WHO Regional Director for Africa” – says Dr L. G. Sambo

Abidjan, 27 July 2009 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo (RD) gave an interview on 23 July 2009 to the United Nations Radio in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI FM), the ECOWAS television station (ATM) and the Ivorian National Television (RTI). The interview took place in Dr Sambo’s office at the Fondation Felix Houphouet-Boigny pour la recherché de la Paix of Yamoussoukro. The full text of the interview is presented below.

ATM: Mr Regional Director, do you think the countries in the subregion can achieve better preparedness for epidemic control?

RD: Health workers should be able to report cases in order for patients to receive the necessary care in such situations. Technical experts in health need to be prepared to participate in the disease surveillance network and, of course, governments must have preparedness and response plans covering all the relevant components including financing. The resources must be available.

ATM: What needs to be done precisely in the case of African countries with fragile economies?

RD: Their health systems must be strengthened especially at the local levels. Their health care coverage and the quality of care must be improved so that the populations receive quality care from their health services. I acknowledge that there are major challenges more specifically in the much-needed financing, human resources and access to technologies. But that is why health services exist. That is why health development partners exist and that is also why the populations should participate in all efforts aimed at strengthening health services and improving the health status of the populations. The populations must have good health status to participate in development.

ONUCI FM: During the meeting, the Ivorian Head of State expressed his wish for the development of cooperation both in human resource planning and in research. What do think of this?

RD: I think that it is an excellent idea of the Head of State. He has reminded us of the need for success in regional integration, including in health, in order that health services can networked in the African Region, and in order to minimize the need for patients’ evacuation outside Africa. He also threw to us a challenge as regard research. Further investments in health research are required in order to improve the quality of health care. I think that challenge concerns all of us especially health services, the ministries of education and scientific research and, of course, communities.

ONUCI FM: What are the health issues that cause nightmares at the WHO Regional Office for Africa?

RD: We in the Regional Office have no nightmares because we are prepared to work and do our utmost, and we believe in health development in Africa  within a broader context of development. However, we have some problems in the priority areas deserving greater attention.

ONUCI FM: What are they?

RD: First, health research and the strengthening of health information systems, organization and management of services, financing of services, human capacity building. These are issues concerning especially the Member States, but that is why we are there to provide our technical support. Even so, the Member States should strengthen their capacities in human resources, financing and appropriate health technologies, so that public health interventions already identified and proven in the  health problems resolution can be scaled up. Certainly, that requires more resources, better management of resources and competent staff, for that matter.

ATM: Mr Regional Director, the issue of your succession will be on agenda next month. Will you be a candidate and what account can you give of your tenure?

RD: Yes, I have put in my candidacy for the post of WHO Regional Director for Africa.

ATM: And what account can you give of your term of office?

RD: I will give an account of my tenure at the Regional Committee meeting scheduled for next month.

RTI: Mr Regional Director, you have visited the Buruli ulcer referral centre in Djekanou. What are your impressions about the centre?

RD: I would like to commend the honourable Minister of Health of Côte d’Ivoire for this idea of sharing Côte d’Ivoire’s experience in Buruli ulcer control. The country has a policy on Buruli ulcer control at the district level. The thrust of the policy is early diagnosis within communities up to the specialized treatment centre, referral centres established in the country. Coverage is quite good even if the Government intends to do more. I should also say that the populations should be on the alert, because Buruli ulcer affects especially the most disadvantaged strata of the society, I mean the poorest. Furthermore, the disease is associated with the conditions of hygiene and environment as well as cleanliness. It is important to note that there are means of treatment, medicines that are quite efficacious and helps avoid situations whereby patients arrive in hospitals at more advanced and serious stages of the disease, thus requiring surgery and even rehabilitation. This underscores the need for very early action, which is very important. I think also that WHO and the Government, through the ministry of health and other ministries like scientific research, can organize themselves to conduct more advanced studies on Buruli ulcer in order to discover the mechanism of transmission of the disease and help improve the current situation.

For further information, please contact:

Dr Komlan Siamevi, WHO Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, contact: 22517200,
e-mail:  wrci [at] ci.afro.who.int

Mr Koné Souleymane, Information Officer, contact: 22517222/07148393
e-mail: kones [at] ci.afro.who.int
Dr Yao Theodore, Health System Officer, contact:22517228/07881457
e-mail: yaot [at] ci.afro.who.int