RC74 – Remarks at the WHO and AUC MoU Signing

Submitted by [email protected]on Fri, 30/08/2024 - 11:24

Remarks by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti

Commissioner Minata Samate Cessouma, the African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development,

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization,

Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention,

Honorable Ministers of Health,

Distinguished colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honor to be here today as we mark a new milestone in our shared commitment to advancing health and well-being across the African continent.

I acknowledge our long-standing partnership with the African Union. Our collaboration began in 1969 and has become stronger over the decades.

Together, we have made significant strides in advancing the continental health agenda and addressing Africa's most pressing health challenges.

I commend the African Union and Commissioner Cessouma for the outstanding leadership in Africa's health, humanitarian affairs, and social development.

The AU's broader stewardship of Africa's sustainable development, articulated in Agenda 2063 - "The Africa We Want," - is inspiring and essential for the continent's progress.

The updated MoU we're signing today is not just a renewal of our ongoing collaboration; it's an expansion, reflecting Africa's evolving realities of health and development.

This includes a renewed focus on Universal Health Coverage, with a strong emphasis on primary health care as the cornerstone of our efforts.

This MoU symbolizes our re-energized commitment to strengthening integrated health systems, accelerating progress to end HIV, TB, and malaria by 2030, and addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

These are essential levers for Africa's sustainable development, ensuring a healthier future for all Africans.

We are also dedicated to advancing the collaborative efforts toward ratifying the AMA treaty and operationalising the African Medicines Agency.

Through this MoU, we pledge our continued technical and financial support for a robust AMA, ensuring a strong regulatory ecosystem and access to safe medical products across Africa.

Our partnership with the AU and its specialized institutions, including the Africa CDC, remains unwavering.

Together, we support our Member States in preventing, detecting, preparing for, and responding to outbreaks, pandemics, and re-emerging health threats.

The renewed MoU further acknowledges the profound impact of climate change on health and advocates for policies that build climate-resilient health systems.

As WHO, we will continue to be a trusted partner of the AU, standing on the frontlines to support these health security aspirations for a safer, greener, and healthier Africa for all.

The critical role of digital health solutions in improving access to care is also underscored in this MoU. It emphasizes harnessing the potential of Africa's digital transformation to bring quality health care closer to communities and those most in need.

Most importantly, the MoU amplifies the principles of equity, gender equality, and health as a human right across all areas of cooperation, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Distinguished Colleagues,

This enhanced alignment of the renewed WHO-AUC MoU with national priorities, the Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals, and WHO's 14th General Programme of Work presents a unique opportunity to harmonize policies, strengthen commitments, enhance synergies, and maximize resources across the continent.

By working together and guided by this MoU, we can more effectively provide, protect, and promote health, ultimately improving the health and well-being of every African.

We look forward to our continued collaboration in building Africa's healthier, more prosperous future.