LUSAKA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango on Thursday called for enhanced collaboration and commitment by member countries of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to advance strategies that improve access to quality healthcare for all.
Speaking at the opening of the Second Meeting of COMESA Ministers of Health, Nalumango emphasized the need for regional health systems to be better prepared to respond decisively to future threats.
She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic not only disrupted medical supply chains but also exposed critical gaps in emergency preparedness and the resilience of health systems across the region, urging countries to scale up local pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthen disease surveillance and early warning systems, and ensure resilient supply chains during crises.
"This moment is also a call to invest in evidence-based policymaking, grounded in research and innovation. Let us reaffirm that science and solidarity must always guide our way forward," she said.
Nalumango cited the ongoing mpox outbreak and increasing climate-related health emergencies as reminders that health security is directly linked to economic security.
She called on the ministers to adopt strong resolutions and renew practical commitments, adding that health is the foundation of any country's development.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe echoed Nalumango's remarks, saying that health is central to the organization's regional agenda.
She said COMESA has established a Health Desk to coordinate regional health initiatives, mobilize resources, and build member states' capacities to respond to current and future challenges in collaboration with technical and development partners.
"Strong health systems are not optional -- they are economic enablers and require increased investment. Investing in health is not a cost; it is a strategic investment in regional stability, productivity, and prosperity," Kapwepwe said.
