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Lloyd Gumbo in MALABO, Equatorial Guinea
The corporate sector in Africa has been called upon to support health systems on the continent if disease outbreaks are to be contained. In his address as chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union at the international conference on Africa’s fight against Ebola here yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said there was need for African countries to invest in public health systems and social infrastructure.
“As we now direct our efforts towards the post-Ebola recovery and reconstruction phase, the African Union is fully cognisant of the role of the private sector as an engine of economic growth and a significant player in all sectors of the economy, including health,” he said.
“The African private sector is the single largest financial contributor to the AU’s Ebola response. That sector leveraged its information technology to contribute to the AU response initiative. Through the Africa Against Ebola Solidarity Trust (AAEST), the African private sector pledged $32 million and has to date disbursed about $15 million to African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA).
“More contributions are expected, with the figure projected to rise to $50 million. We also acknowledge, with gratitude, the private sector pledge for the long-term support towards the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.”
African ministers of Health underscored the critical role that the corporate sector can play in improving health systems on the continent.
Botswana’s Minister of Health, Dorcas Makgato said it was important for the continent to come together in fighting disease outbreaks.
“I believe that governments are doing the best they can. We certainly regard the private sector as significant stakeholders therefore the more they can come in, the better for everyone.”
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea were some of the most affected countries by the epidemic that claimed more than 11 000 lives.
Guinea’s Minister of Health, Dr Remy Lamah said his Government was working hard to contain the Ebola outbreak with the prevalence significantly reduced.
“In the beginning, we used to have about 100 patients per week, but now we have come down to about five patients per week.”
South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said the conference allowed them to share ideas on how to prepare for disease outbreaks.
“We cannot allow a situation where Ebola resurfaces and finds us not ready. We are agreeing that the Ebola incidence must be regarded as ground zero from which we must all rise and rebuild an African health system. It is not only in West Africa where we are exposed,” said Dr Motsoaledi.
Nigeria’s permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute added that it was important for the African continent to have response mechanism in place to fight diseases.
“This conference is important. That is why we are grateful to the AU Commission for bringing us together to see the challenges that confront us and come up with framework of how to beat these,” he said.
World Health Organisation regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti said health systems in Africa needed to be revamped adding that the corporate sector was expected to take the lead in supporting health systems.
“The corporate sector need to be mobilised to do more financial for health development in the countries because if we have healthy citizens it benefits them as well as they have healthy workers and they have healthy prosperous people to market the goods that they are producing,” she said.
Online Reporter