ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo underscores the urgent need to create a global health system that puts Africa at the center of decision-making, African health leaders and experts have said.
They made the call during the African High-Level Ministerial Committee meeting held on Sunday evening at the headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The meeting focused on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as the continental response to the continued Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak.
Addressing the ministerial meeting, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya emphasized that the continent's battle against Ebola extends beyond the virus itself, noting that the gathering was convened at "a turning point for Africa's health security."
"Our fight is not just against the virus. It is about building the trust and unity that make every response possible," said Kaseya, highlighting the critical importance of fostering a global health system that puts the continent at the center of decision-making.
The Africa CDC chief noted that beyond establishing the necessary infrastructure and human capital, ensuring true public health preparedness demands strong community engagement and trust-building.
The high-level ministerial meeting also focused on ways to augment the continent's local medical product manufacturing capacity in line with the commitment made by African leaders in February this year, aiming to produce at least 60 percent of the continent's essential health products, including vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics, locally by 2040.
Sierra Leone's Minister of Health Austin Demby said that as the global health architecture is currently undergoing significant changes, it is vital for the African continent to put strong emphasis on meaningfully enhancing national capabilities.
"The challenge we need to address is that when an outbreak occurs in a country, it is crucial for that nation to be adequately prepared and able to respond effectively," said Demby.
Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Health Florence Samizi underscored that the global health architecture reform is about "how the global health system works for our people when they need it most."
Highlighting recent geopolitical shifts and the "severe pressure" on global health financing, she pointed out that both Africa and the global community must draw lessons from past declarations, frameworks, and commitments to effectively translate these into actionable strategies for the future.
