WHO official urges African nations to unite for stronger health security

KIGALI: THE acting Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has called on African countries to work together in strengthening health security across the continent.

He made the call during the opening of the four-day Africa Health Agenda International Conference in Kigali on Sunday evening, where he underscored that no nation can combat infectious diseases and health threats alone.

He said it is through unity and collaboration among countries will keep Africa safe.

“In the space of infectious diseases and health security, there’s no success on our own. We must work together,” he stated, stressing the critical need for cooperation across borders to effectively address global health threats.

He further highlighted the inter-connectivity of health security, explaining that a health crisis in one country can quickly become a threat to others.

“There’s no notion of one country having great health security and your neighbour not having it. It will never work,” Dr Ihekweazu remarked.

He underscored the necessity of regional and global partnerships in health, particularly pointing to the role of organisations such as the Africa CDC and WHO, which are vital in strengthening health systems across the continent.

He also stressed that Africa has an equal right to participate and contribute to global health discussions and that the continent must continue to strengthen its voice on the world stage.

“We have as much a right to be a player and a voice in the global landscape as everyone else. Yes, we want to be strong on our own, locally and on the continent, but we have every right to have a voice on the global stage as well and we must not withdraw from that space, even as much as we want to have a strong African voice.”

Never shy away from being active participants in the global space and in the space of infectious disease threats, it’s not a nice job. We have to be at the middle of that response,” he stressed.

Supporting Dr Ihekweazu’s comments, the CEO of Amref Health Africa, Dr Githinji Gitahi, further stressed the global nature of health security.

He likened the need for cooperation in health to airspace safety, stating that “if one community is unsafe, it’s like having an unsafe airspace of one country—the entire world is at risk.” Dr Gitahi called for global solidarity, noting that while cooperation is an obligation, generosity from wealthier nations cannot always be taken for granted.

Rwanda’s Minister for Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, took the opportunity to address key priorities for advancing Africa’s health agenda.

He highlighted the need for substantial investment in healthcare infrastructure, technology and human resources.

“We need to significantly increase the number of trained health professionals—nurses, doctors and workers,” Dr Nsanzimana said, advocating for the quadrupling of health professionals to meet the continent’s growing healthcare needs.

He also called for the integration of advanced technologies into health systems to better equip them for the challenges ahead.

“We must equip our systems with the necessary and up-to-date technology but also train our youth to understand and use these innovations.”

Director of External Relations and Strategic Management at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr Claudia Shilumani, also had an highlight and her focus was on the importance of sustainable financing for African healthcare.

Article first published on https://dailynews.co.tz/who-official-urges-african-nations-to-unite-for-stronger-health-security/