- Dr Lul Riek, the Africa Centers for Disease Control regional director appealed for a strong African CDC able to deliver excellent results.
- He called upon Africa Union member states to prepare a better context of health security.
Image: FILE
Stakeholders in the health sector want to take drastic measures to reverse the low levels of vaccine uptake in Africa.
This comes after the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the entire globe.
African nations have been called upon to stand together and pool resources, with the international community, having set aside $2 billion (Sh248 billion) to facilitate any country in the continent to access vaccines.
Dr Lul Riek, the Africa Centers for Disease Control regional director said Africa dragged in accessing the lifesaving Covid-19 and monkeypox vaccines.
Dr Riek appealed for a strong African CDC able to deliver excellent results through revamped national public health and research initiatives while roping in respective universities in such important undertakings.
He spoke virtually through a forum organized by the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture.
He called upon Africa Union member states to prepare a better context of health security.
“Africa CDC is deeply concerned with over 100 health emergencies reported annually on the continent; ranging from disease outbreaks, manmade conflicts, climate-related droughts, floods, hurricanes, and cyclones increasing in number and severity,” he said.
Dr Riek said before the emergence of Covid-19, the top five causes of epidemics were cholera, measles, yellow fever, meningitis and influenza, most of which are preventable by strengthening routine immunisation.
He said between 2014 and 2016, Africa witnessed the largest Ebola outbreak since the discovery of the virus in 1970.
Reports by Africa CDC indicate 12,059,143 Covid-19 cases and over 255,699 deaths across the African continent as of September 20.
He singled out the other pandemics as; West Nile fever, Lassa fever, Rabies, Measles, Cholera, Monkeypox, Yellow fever, Polio, and Rift Valley fever.
“This week, Uganda reported an outbreak of ebola virus which has been attributed largely to the interface between human, animals and environment which have increased tremendously over the decades,” the regional director said.
Dr Riek said that during Africa’s vaccine manufacturing conference held in Zambia held in April 2021, about 40,000 people participated online from various countries.
During the forum, AU set a goal to produce 60 per cent of the vaccines administered in Africa.
“The goal is to increase vaccine manufacturing on the African continent to meet 60 per cent of the demand by 2040 and mandated the partnerships for African vaccine manufacturing to develop a Framework for Action to execute this,” Dr Riek said.
Citing the Abuja Declaration, Dr Riek appealed to respective African Member countries to ensure they set aside 15 per cent of their National Budget for the Health sector.
“Out of the 55 African countries, only five of them have met the requirement,” he added.
“Whereas we have a population of 1.3 billion in Africa, only about 23 per cent has so far been vaccinated against Covid-19.”
The regional director urged the media to sensitise the youth to stop the misplaced myth that they have strong protection because they are still young and can fight the disease.
“If we can hit 70 per cent, that will be a commendable achievement. The question remains whether Africa is well prepared for the next round of epidemics similar to Covid-19?”
Dr Riek reassured the public that Africa CDC is committed to working collaboratively with all partners in supporting the AU member states to build resilient health security and make Africa safe in line with the Agenda 2063 aspirations.
Carthy Karottu, the Africa Regional Communications & Advocacy Officer with WACI Health Organisation, called for equity after the pandemic exacerbated inequalities thus making it more difficult for the vulnerable communities to access healthcare.
Karottu called for inclusive governance where all stakeholders including the civil society are all involved as equal partners from the start.
She also emphasised the need for international solidarity where organisations like WHO, EU Commission, France, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation among others respond to the health security needs as proposed by the G20 leaders in March 2020.
“The G20 and its entire membership have pledged $10 billion (Sh1.23 trillion) a proposal to be implemented over the next 5 years translating to $50 billion (Sh6.15 billion) for future preparedness for Covid-19 or any other pandemic,” she said.
“African leaders should also be included at the global financing table as equal partners if we hope to achieve equity, unlike past scenarios where they were sidelined in important decision-making by the powerful body.”
Edited by Kiilu Damaris