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Lloyd Gumbo in MALABO, Equatorial Guinea
Africa is expected to establish a continental Centre for Disease Control as part of its fight against communicable diseases that have retarded countries’ growth. President Robert Mugabe who is the African Union and Sadc chairperson is here to attend the International Conference on Africa’s fight against Ebola.
African ministers of health met here yesterday where they concurred on the need to have an African Centre for Disease Control (ACDC).
In an interview on the sidelines of yesterday’s meeting, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, said that establishment of the ACDC was ideal if Africa is to successfully fight disease outbreaks. “The major issue that we are tackling today is one on the formation of an African Centre for Disease Control,” he said
“It’s really like a major centre for research, diagnostics within Africa for communicable disease mostly. We are very engaged on that. It’s at a very advanced stage.
“We are hoping that an African CDC will be formed by December this year. So this meeting will pour into the meeting of the Heads of State that is going to happen the day after tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Dr Parirenyatwa said while ministers and other delegates disagreed on where the centre would be headquartered between the AU and Brazzaville, the former was likely to carry the day. “But having said that we’re going to insist that there are regional centres of the African Centre for Disease Control. So each economic bloc in Africa – the five regions should each have a CDC of its own and we will choose which country, say within Sadc, should house that but the main one will be in Addis (Ababa) according to my reading.”
Dr Parirenyatwa said today’s plenary was expected to consider pledges, donations and contributions from African governments and the private sector in the continent. The conference follows the hosting of another conference against Ebola in New York about a fortnight ago by the United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki Moon.
President Mugabe attended the conference in his capacity as the AU and Sadc chairperson where the international community pledged at least $5 billion.
“It’s the turn of Africa now to show what we can do. It may not be the same in terms of the magnitude but we want to see that commitment.
“I’m hoping that tomorrow will be that build-up towards that commitment, those pledges and those contributions from our governments and the private sector,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
He said there has been a major improvement in the allocation and disbursement of funding by African governments towards disease control.
President Mugabe is expected to chair the session on pledges today but will deliver his keynote address tomorrow.
Dr Parirenyatwa said the conference would present an opportunity for African governments and the private sector on the continent to contribute significantly towards the fight against Ebola. The conference is running under the theme “Africa helping the African people in Recovery and Reconstruction after Ebola”.
Besides claiming at least 11,000 lives predominantly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone since 2014, the disease also ravaged the three countries’ economies.
As such, the conference is expected to raise funding to help the affected countries recover and reconstruct their economies.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu