Africa Centre for Disease Control CDC Governing Board Chairperson Hon. Slyvia Masebo says the submission by the Africa CDC to declare Cholera a Public Health Emergency in the SADC region has been rejected.
Chairing the Extraordinary Session of the Governing Board in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today, Hon. Masebo who is also Zambia’s Minister of Health said regardless of Cholera having affected almost 15 Member States in SADC and Eastern Africa, the SADC Ministers of Health observed that individual countries must decide to either declare the outbreak as health emergency on not.
The Minister said the ongoing devastating impact of Cholera and other infectious diseases on our continent must encourage Member states to develop proactive interventions to prevent future occurrences.
She further encouraged Member States to fast-track the establishment of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs).
The Minister commended Africa CDC on remarkable progress being made in operationalizing the Lusaka Call To Action, to ensure that African Union Member States develop clear Public Health Emergency Operations Centers’ roadmaps backed by legal mandates, and equipped with the right infrastructures, human & and financial resources.
Hon. Masebo also thanked the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, for the decision to elevate the opening session of the recently concluded 3rd Conference of Public Health in Africa to a State Function status.
And Hon. Masebo has urged CDC Governing Board members and partners to support Africa CDC to carry out its mandate and work diligently to address multiple public health threats and epidemics in Africa.
On the CDC 7th Anniversary celebration, the Minister commended Africa CDC and said the theme “A journey of commitment, hard work, and action to safeguard Africa’s health security agenda”, was timely and befitting as the continent faces many public health security issues at the moment.
And Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya said the CDC Governing Board Meeting will allow Member States to work on documents for the forthcoming Committee of Heads of States and Government of Africa CDC scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the forthcoming African Union Summit.
This is contained in a statement issued by first Secretary for Press and Tourism Mrs. Inutu Mupango Mwanza in Ethiopia.
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