Regional health body woos Seychelles

Dr Madzorera is accompanied by his legal adviser, Ms Foelane Muronda, ECSA-HC director-general Dr Josephine Mbae and the organisation’s finance director, Dr Egbert Moustache.
Dr Madzorera said ECSA-HC acknowledges Seychelles’ active contribution at the organisation’s forums, hence the effort to have her back into the regional body.
He said having Seychelles in the organisation would help make the  10-nation body’s voice stronger.
“Seychelles would have even more to gain because ECSA is strong in human resources development, training and retention of health professionals as well as issues of global health diplomacy and increasing the capacity of African countries to negotiate at global forums for better deals in health,” Dr Madzorera said.
“We need to stay together and stay strong as it is the only way we can make it out there. For example, when we go to the World Health Assembly in Geneva we need to speak with one voice on all items and push the African agenda for which ECSA has got tailor-made programmes,” Dr Madzorera said.
He said next year, ECSA would start bringing together all member countries to discuss the World Health Assembly agenda to come up with one position from Africa.
Dr Madzorera is standing in for current ECSA-HC chairperson, Kenya’s Minister for Public Health and Sanitation Dr Beth Mugo, and the team is expected to meet several dignitaries in the Seychelles.
ECSA-HC is a regional inter-governmental health organisation that fosters and promotes regional co-operation in health among member states.
ECSA members include Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
ECSA-HC was launched in 1974 to foster and strengthen regional co-operation and capacity to address the health needs of the member states.