The meeting will examine and support methods to increase access to healthcare and improve people's wellbeing. It will also look for ways to reduce the causes of disease.
The annual public health conference was opened by the president of the Republic of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, according to a statement by the WHO African Region (WHO AFRO).
The gathering, which runs from August 22 to 26, is the first to take place in person since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Health ministers and attendees at the regional committee will debate and support important tactics and roll out initiatives for disease prevention. Building on the lessons learned during the pandemic response, they will also support efforts to improve emergency response and encourage the adoption of technological solutions to address health concerns.
Since it began, the epidemic has had a significant negative influence on the delivery of healthcare throughout the continent of Africa, wreaking havoc on economies, lives, and way of life.
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However, COVID-19's aftershocks are also spurring fresh initiatives to rethink and rebuild health systems in order to significantly improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services as well as their ability to not only better withstand the effects of health emergencies.
"Investing in the health system in Africa is important to achieving our development ambitions," said Minata Samate Cessouma, commissioner for humanitarian and social development affairs for the African Union. For the sake of global health and economic security, this investment must be significant and strategic.
In addition to COVID-19, the African region is also battling other health challenges triggered by outbreaks of communicable diseases, humanitarian crises, climatic shocks and rising burden of chronic diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. Every year, the region faces more than 100 health emergencies, more than any other region in the world.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “We are calling on all member states to make an urgent paradigm shift towards promoting health and well-being and preventing disease by addressing its root causes and creating conditions for health to thrive.”
