Remarks by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti,
74th session of the World Health Assembly
Agenda item 17. Public health emergencies: preparedness and response
Madame Chairperson, Honourable Ministers, delegates:
African Ministers took early, determined and strong action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we know that this came at great economic cost that will continue into the future.
The pandemic has indeed presented enormous challenges to our Member States in the African Region as it has to the whole world.
Our countries have also been dealing with outbreaks of Ebola, measles and yellow fever among others, and humanitarian crises. They have pushed to sustain hard-won gains and to minimize the pandemic’s impact on actions to prevent and treat other diseases.
COVID-19 has brought the importance of equity into focus, to protect the most vulnerable. Even in high-income countries equity has determined who was worst-affected in terms of infection, mortality, and social and economic repercussions. The value of investing in preparedness has also been reaffirmed.
It is in the interests of all countries that this pandemic is contained, everywhere, and as soon as possible. We deeply appreciate the action of countries that have started sharing vaccines, and I’d like to echo the Director-General’s remarks in his opening address that much needs to be done immediately and in significant quantities to make a difference.
The ACT Accelerator, including the COVAX Facility and the African Union’s platforms, with which we are collaborating closely, have pioneered multilateral solutions to enormous global supply distortions. We need to do much better clearly, to support low-income countries.
African countries are determined, looking ahead to produce their own essential commodities, including vaccines, thus building resilience and self-reliance. We commend and will act to support this.
The upcoming piloting of Universal Health and Preparedness Reviews will further assist in charting the way forward in countries.
All of the Member States in the African Region have undergone external evaluations of their International Health Regulations capacities in the past few years and are therefore well-positioned to participate in this new process. Countries have developed roadmaps to cover the gaps identified in the evaluations, and I’d like to urge partners to support the financing of these plans to advance the dual goals of strengthening health systems and scaling-up preparedness in the African Region.
In closing, my colleagues and I are looking forward to the decisions following the recommendations made by the Independent Panel and the review and oversight committees.
We remain committed to working with partners to support our Member States in implementing the changes that will make health systems more resilient and enhance capacities for preparedness and dealing with outbreaks in the Region.
I thank you very much for your attention.