16 Feb 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko says African heads of state and government have resolved to move with speed to mobilise both human and financial resources to build necessary capacity for robust universal health care systems.

President Boko said in a post-closed meeting, which he attended with president of Rwanda Mr Paul Kagame, who chaired the meeting, president William Ruto of Kenya and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, on the eve of the 38th ordinary session of the African Union Summit, that Africans wanted to change the status quo and take full responsibility of the health of the Africans. 

He said Africa started mulling the idea of taking full responsibility for the health of her people during COVID-19 outbreak after the developed world hoarded COVID-19 vaccines leaving Africa and her people in the lurch.

Recently, US president Donald Trump gave executive orders meant to cut down on aid given to Africa.

The move by the US sent shockwaves worldwide with some people raising concerns that the move would reverse strides achieved by Africa in the health sector. 

Therefore, President Boko said the African nations under the auspices of the African Union and in collaboration with the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) wanted to pull resources together in the shortest time possible with a view to produce own vaccines and medicines.

Africa CDC strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks, based on data-driven interventions and programmes. 

Furthermore, President Boko said a consensus was reached during the meeting that already established centres such as the Botswana Vaccine Institute could become handy and help the continent achieve the noble objective.

The meeting, he said also agreed that the participation of the private sector was crucial to attain the dream.

He was of the view that the notion of waiting for crises in Africa to rise must be a thing of the past if the motherland harboured good intentions to ensure top-notch universal access to healthcare for Africans. ENDS